THE  SCARECROW 


THE  MACMILLAN  COMPANY 

NEW  YORK   •   BOSTON  •    CHICAGO 
ATLANTA  •    SAN  FRANCISCO 

MACMILLAN  &  CO.,  LIMITED 

LONDON   •   BOMBAY  •    CALCUTTA 
MELBOURNE 

THE  MACMILLAN  CO.  OF  CANADA,  LTD. 

TORONTO 


THE   SCARECROW 

OR 
THE   GLASS    OF  TRUTH 

A  Tragedy  of  the  Ludicrous 

'  j  / 1-1-"'4"' 

BY 

PERCY    MACKAYE 

n 


OF  T 

E 

Of 


THE   MACMILLAN   COMPANY 
1908 

AH  rights  reserved 


' 


COPYRIGHT,  1908, 
BY  THE  MACMILLAN  COMPANY. 

Set  up  and  electrotyped.    Published  February,  1908. 


This  play  has  been  copyrighted  and  published  simultaneously  in  the  United 
States  and  Great  Britain.  All  acting  rights,  both  professional  and  amateur,  are 
reserved  in  the  United  States,  Great  Britain,  and  countries  of  the  Copyright  Union, 
by  Percy  MacKaye.  Performances  forbidden  and  right  of  representation  reserved. 
Application  for  the  right  of  performing  this  piece  must  be  made  to  The  Macmillan 
Company.  Any  piracy  or  infringement  will  be  prosecuted  in  accordance  with  the 
penalties  provided  by  the  United  States  Statutes :  — 

"  Sec.  4966.  —  Any  person  publicly  performing  or  representing  any  dramatic  or 
musical  composition,  for  which  copyright  has  been  obtained,  r  without  the  consent  of 
the  proprietor  of  the  said  dramatic  or  musical  composition,  or  his  heirs  or  assigns, 
shall  be  liable  for  damages  therefor,  such  damages  in  all  cases  to  be  assessed  at  such 
sum,  not  less  than  one  hundred  dollars  for  the  first  and  fifty  dollars  for  every  subse 
quent  performance,  as  to  the  Court  shall  appear  to  be  just.  If  the  unlawful  perform 
ance  and  representation  be  wilful  Jindt  for  profit,  such  person  or  persons  shall  be 
guilty  of &  nyidemeanoV,  ahol  upon  Conviction  be  imprisoned  for  a  period  not  exceed 
ing  one  yoar^"  ,*U.  S.  .RhviseJd  Statutes,  Tjtle  60,  Chap.  3. 


J.  S.  Gushing  Co.  — Berwick  &  Smith  Co. 
Norwood,  Mass.,  U.S.A. 


MY   MOTHER 

IN  MEMORY   OF  AUSPICIOUS 

"COUNTINGS  OF  THE  CROWS" 

BY  OLD  NEW  ENGLAND  CORN-FIELDS 


PREFACE 

BUT  for  a  fantasy  of  Nathaniel  Hawthorne,  this 
play,  of  course,  would  never  have  been  written.  In 
"  Mosses  from  an  Old  Manse,"  the  Moralized  Legend 
"  Feathertop  "  relates,  in  some  twenty  pages  of  its 
author's  inimitable  style,  how  Mother  Rigby,  a  re 
puted  witch  of  old  New  England  days,  converted  a 
corn-patch  scarecrow  into  the  semblance  of  a  fine 
gentleman  of  the  period;  how  she  despatched  this 
semblance  to  "  play  its  part  in  the  great  world,  where 
not  one  man  in  a  hundred,  she  affirmed,  was  gifted 
with  more  real  substance  than  itself  " ;  how  there  the 
scarecrow,  while  paying  court  to  pretty  Polly  Gookin, 
the  rosy,  simpering  daughter  of  Justice  Gookin,  dis 
covered  its  own  image  in  a  looking-glass,  returned 
to  Mother  Rigby 's  cottage,  and  dissolved  into  its 
original  elements. 

My  indebtedness,  therefore,  to  this  source,  in 
undertaking  the  present  play,  goes  without  saying. 
Yet  it  would  not  be  true,  either  to  Hawthorne's  work 
or  my  own,  to  classify  "  The  Scarecrow  "  as  a  drama 
tization  of  "  Feathertop."  Were  it  intended  to  be 
such,  the  many  radical  departures  from  the  concep 
tion  and  the  treatment  of  Hawthorne  which  are  evi 
dent  in  the  present  work  would  have  to  be  regarded 
as  so  many  unwarrantable  liberties  taken  with  its 

ix 


X  PREFACE 

original  material;  the  function  of  the  play  itself 
would,  in  such  case,  become  purely  formal,  —  trans- 
lative  of  a  narrative  to  its  appropriate  dramatic  form, 
—  and  as  such,  however  interesting  and  commendable 
an  effort,  would  have  lost  all  raison  d'etre  for  the 
writer. 

But  such,  I  may  say,  has  not  been  my  intention. 
My  aim  has  been  quite  otherwise.  Starting  with  the 
same  basic  theme,  I  have  sought  to  elaborate  it,  by 
my  own  treatment,  to  a  different  and  more  inclusive 
issue. 

Without  particularizing  here  the  full  substance  of 
Hawthorne's  consummate  sketch,  which  is  available 
to  every  reader,  the  divergence  I  refer  to  may  be 
summed  up  briefly. 

The  scarecrow  Feathertop  of  Hawthorne  is  the 
imaginative  epitome  or  symbol  of  human  charlatanism, 
with  special  emphasis  upon  the  coxcombry  of  fashion 
able  society.  In  his  essential  superficiality  he  is 
characterized  as  a  fop,  "  strangely  self-satisfied,"  with 
"  nobby  little  nose  thrust  into  the  air."  "  And  many 
a  fine  gentleman,"  says  Mother  Rigby,  "  has  a  pump 
kin-head  as  well  as  my  scarecrow."  His  hollow 
semblance  is  the  shallowness  of  a  "well-digested 
conventionalism,  which  had  incorporated  itself  thor 
oughly  with  his  substance  and  transformed  him  into 
a  work  of  art."  "  But  the  clothes  in  this  case  were 
to  be  the  making  of  the  man,"  and  so  Mother  Rigby, 
after  fitting  him  out  in  a  suit  of  embroidered  finery, 
endows  him  as  a  finishing  tou^ja  "  with  a  great  deal 
of  brass,  which  she  applied  to  his  forehead,  thus 


PREFACE  „  xi 

making  it  yellower  than  before.  '  With  that  brass 
alone,'  quoth  she,  *  thou  canst  pay  thy  way  all  over 
the  earth.' " 

Similarly,  the  other  characters  are  sketched  by 
Hawthorne  in  accord  with  this  general  conception. 
Pretty  Polly  Gookin,  "  tossing  her  head  and  manag 
ing  her  fan"  before  the  mirror,  views  therein  "an 
unsubstantial  little  maid  that  reflected  every  gesture 
and  did  all  the  foolish  things  that  Polly  did,  but 
without  making  her  ashamed  of  them.  In  short,  it 
was  the]  fault  of  pretty  Polly's  ability,  rather  than  her 
will,  if  she  failed  to  be  as  complete  an  artifice  as 
the  illustrious  Feathertop  himself." 

Thus  the  Moralized  Legend  re  veals  itself  as  a  satire 
upon  a  restricted  artificial  phase  of  society.  As  such, 
it  runs  its  brief  course,  with  all  the  poetic  charm  and 
fanciful  suggestiveness  of  our  great  New  Englander's 
prose  style,  to  its  appropriate  denouement,  —  the  dis 
integration  of  its  hero. 

"'My  poor,  dear,  pretty  Feathertop,'  quoth  Mother 
Rigby,  with  a  rueful  glance  at  the  relics  of  her  ill- 
fated  contrivance,  'there  are  thousands  upon  thou 
sands  of  coxcombs  and  charlatans  in  the  world  made 
up  of  just  such  a  jumble  of  worn-out,  forgotten,  and 
good-for-nothing  trash  as  he  was,  yet  they  live  in 
fair  repute  and  never  see  themselves  for  what  they 
are.  And  why  should  my  poor  puppet  be  the  only 
one  to  know  himself  and  perish  for  it  ? '  " 

Coxcombry  and  charlatanism,  then,  are  the  butt 
of  Hawthorne's  satire^  in  his  Legend.  The  nature 
of  his  theme,  however,  is  susceptible  of  an  application 


xii  PREFACE 

far  less  restricted,  a  development  far  more  universal, 
than  such  satire.  This  wider  issue  once  or  twice  in 
his  sketch  he  seems  to  have  touched  upon,  only 
immediately  to  ignore  again.  Thus,  in  the  very  last 
paragraph,  Mother  Rigby  exclaims :  "  Poor  Feather- 
top  !  I  could  easily  give  him  another  chance  and  send 
him  forth  again  to-morrow.  But  no !  His  feelings 
are  too  tender  —  his  sensibilities  too  deep" 

In  these  words,  spoken  in  irony,  Hawthorne  ends 
his  narrative  with  an  undeveloped  aspect  of  his 
theme,  which  constitutes  the  starting-point  of  the  con 
ception  of  my  play :  the  aspect,  namely,  of  the  essen 
tial  tragedy  of  the  htdicrous  ;f  zxi  aspect  which,  in 
its  development,  inevitably  predicates  for  my  play 
a  divergent  treatment  and  a  different  conclusion. 
The  element  of  human  sympathy  is  here  substituted 
for  that  of  irony,  as  criterion  of  the  common  absurdity 
of  mankind. 

The  scarecrow  Feathertop  is  ridiculous,  as  the 
emblem  of  a  superficial  fop ;  the  scarecrow  Ravens- 
bane  is  pitiful,  as  the  emblem  of  human  bathos. 

Compared  with  our  own  ideas  of  human  perfection, 
what  human  rubbish  we  are !  Of  what  incongruous 
elements  are  we  constructed  by  time  and  inheritance 
wherewith  to  realize  the  reasonableness,  the  power, 
the  altruism,  of  our  dreams !  What  absurdity  is  our 
highest  consummation !  Yet  the  sense  of  our  com 
mon  deficiency  is,  after  all,  our  salvation.  There  is 
one  reality  which  is  a  basic  hope  for  the  realization 
of  those  dreams.  This  sense  is  human  sympathy, 
I  which  is,  it  would  seem,  a  more  searching  critic  of 


PREFACE  xiii 

human  frailty  than  satire.  It  is  the  growth  of  this 
sense  which  dowers  with  dignity  and  reality  the 
hollowest  and  most  ludicrous  of  mankind,  and  be 
comes  in  such  a  fundamental  grace  of  character. 

In  a  recent  critical  interpretation  of  Cervantes' 
great  work,  Professor  G.  E.  Woodberry  writes :  "  A 
madman  has  no  character ;  but  it  is  the  character  of 
Don  Quixote  that  at  last  draws  the  knight  out  of  all 
his  degradations  and  makes  him  triumph  in  the  heart 
of  the  reader."  And  he  continues:  "  Modern  dismay 
begins  in  the  thought  that  here  is  not  the  abnormality 
of  an  individual,  but  the  madness  of  the  soul  in  its 
own  nature." 

If  for  "  madness  "  in  this  quotation  I  may  be  per 
mitted  to  substitute  ludicroitsness  (or  incongruity), 
a  more  felicitous  expression  of  my  meaning,  as 
applied  to  Ravensbane  in  this  play,  would  be  diffi 
cult  to  devise. 

From  what  has  -  been  said,  it  will,  I  trust,  be  the 
more  clearly  apparent  why  "  The  Scarecrow  "  cannot 
with  any  appropriateness  be  deemed  a  dramatization 
of  "  Feathertop,"  and  why  its  manifold  divergencies 
from  the  latter  in  treatment  and  motive  cannot  with 
any  just  significance  be  considered  as  liberties  taken 
with  an  original  source.  <  Dickon,  for  example,  whose 
name  in  the  Legend  is  but  a  momentary  invocation 
in  the  mouth  of  Mother  Rigby,  becomes  in  my  play 
not  merely  the  characterized  visible  associate  of 
Goody  Rickby  ("Blacksmith  Bess"),  but  the  neces 
sary  foil  of  sceptical  irony  to  the  human  growth  of 
the  scarecrow.  So,  too,  for  reasons  of  the  play's 


xiv  PREFACE 

different  intent,  Goody  Rickby  herself  is  differen 
tiated  from  Mother  Rigby;  and  Rachel  Merton  has 
no  motive,  of  character  or  artistic  design,  in  common 
with  pretty,  affected  Polly  Gookin. 

My  indebtedness  to  the  New  England  master  in 
literature  is,  needless  to  say,  gratefully  acknow 
ledged  ;  but  it  is  fitting,  I  think,  to  distinguish  clearly 
between  the  aim  and  the  scope  of  "  Feathertop  "  and 
that  of  the  play  in  hand,  as  much  in  deference  to 
the  work  of  Hawthorne  as  in  comprehension  of  the 

spirit  of  my  own. 

P.   M-K. 

CORNISH,  NEW  HAMPSHIRE, 
December,  1907. 


.     DRAMATIS   PERSONS 

JUSTICE  GILEAD  MERTON. 

GOODY   RICKEY  ("  Blacksmith  Bess  ") . 

LORD  RAVENSBANE  (  "  Marquis  of  Oxford,  Baron  of  Wit 
tenberg,  Elector  of  Worms,  and  Count  of  Cordova"},  their 
hypothetical  son. 

DICKON,  a  Yankee  improvisation  of  the  Prince  of  Darkness. 

RACHEL   MERTON,  niece  of  the  Justice. 

MISTRESS   CYNTHIA   MERTON,  sister  of  the  Justice, 

RICHARD   TALBOT,  Esq^lire,  betrothed  to  Rachel. 

SIR   CHARLES   REDDINGTON,  Lieutenant  Governor. 

MISTRESS   REDDINGTON  j  Ms  daughters. 

AMELIA  REDDINGTON      ) 

CAPTAIN   BUGBY,  the  Governors  Secretary. 

MINISTER   DODGE. 

MISTRESS   DODGE,  his  wife. 

REV.   MASTER   RAND,  of  Harvard  College, 

REV.   MASTER  TODD,  of  Harvard  College, 

MICAH,  a  servant  of  the  Justice. 


TIME.  —  Late  Seventeenth  Century. 
PLACE.  —  A  town  in  Massachusetts. 


xv 


ACT   I 


ACT    I 

The  interior  of  a  blacksmith  shop.     Right  centre,  a 

Left,  a  loft,  from  which  are  hanging  dried  cornstalks, 
hay,  and  the  yellow  ears  of  cattle- corn.  Back  centre, 
a  wide  double  door,  closed  when  the  curtain  rises. 
Through  this  door — when  later  it  is  opened —  is  visible 
a  New  England  landscape  in  the  late  springtime :  a 
distant  wood;  stone  walls,  high  elms,  a  well-sweep  ;  and, 
in  the  near  foreground,  a  ploughed  field,  from  which  the 
green  shoots  of  early  corn  are  just  appearing.  The 
blackened  walls  of  the  shop  are  covered  with  a  miscel 
laneous  collection  of  old  iron,  horseshoes,  cart  wheels, 
etc.,  the  usual  appurtenances  of  a  smithy.  In  the  right- 
hand  corner,  however,  is  an  array  of  things  quite  out  of 
keeping  with  the  shop  proper:  musical  instruments, 
puppets,  tall  clocks,  and  fantastical  junk.  Conspicuoiis 
amongst  these  articles  is  a  large  standing  mirror, 
framed  grotesquely  in  old  gold  and  curtained  by  a  dull 
stuff,  embroidered  with  peaked  caps  and  crescent  moons. 

Just  before  the  scene  opens,  a  hammer  is  heard  ringing 
briskly  upon  steel.  As  the  curtain  rises  there  is  dis 
covered,  standing  at  the  anvil  in  the  flickering  light  of 
a  bright  flame  from  the  forge,  a  woman  — powerful^ 
ruddy,  proud  with  a  certain  masterful  beauty,  white- 
haired  (as  though  prematurely],  bare-armed  to  the  elbows, 
clad  in  a  dark  skirt  (above  her  ankles],  a  loose  blouse, 
open  at  the  throat;  a  leathern  apron  and  a  workman 's 
cap.  The  woman  is  GOODY  RICKEY.  On  the  anvil 
she  is  shaping  a  piece  of  iron.  Beside  her  stands  a 
3 


THE  SCARECROW 

framework  of  iron  formed  like  the  ribs  and  backbone 
of  a  man.  For  a  few  moments  she  continues  to  ply  her 
hammer,  amid  a  shower  of  sparks,  till  suddenly  the 
fiame  on  the  forge  dies  down. 


GOODY  RICKEY 

Dickon !     More  flame. 

A  VOICE 

\_Above  her] 
Yea,  Goody. 
\_Theflame  in  the  forge  spurts  up  high  and  suddenly] 

GOODY  RICKEY 
Nay,  not  so  fierce. 

THE  VOICE 
[At  her  side.] 
Votre  pardon,  madame. 

\_The  flame  subsides] 
Is  that  better  ? 

GOODY   RICKEY 
That  will  do. 
[  With  her  tongs,  she  thrusts  the  iron  into  the  flame ;  it  turns 

white-hot] 

Quick  work ;  nothing  like  brimstone  for  the  smithy 
trade. 

[At  the  anvil,  she  begins  to  weld  the  iron  rib  on   to  the 
framework] 

There,  my  beauty !     We'll  make  a  stout  set  of  ribs 
for  you.     I'll  see  to  it  this  year  that  I  have  a  scare- 


THE  SCARECROW  5 

crow  can  outstand  all  the  nor'easters  that  blow.     I've 
no  notion  to  lose  my  corn-crop  this  summer. 

[Outside,  the  faint  cawings  of  crows  are  heard.  Putting 
down  her  tongs  and  hammer^Goody  Rickby  strides  to 
the  double  door,  and  flinging  it  wide  open,  lets  in  the 
gray  light  of  dawn.  She  looks  out  over  the  fields  and 
shakes  her  fist.~\ 

So  ye're  up  before  me  and  the  sun,  are  ye? 

[Squinting  against  the  light.~\ 
There's  one !     Nay,  two.     Aha ! 

One  for  sorrow, 

Two  for  mirth  — 

Good !     This  time  we'll  have  the  laugh  on  our  side. 
[She  returns  to  the  forge,  where  again  the  fire  has  died  out^\ 
Dickon  !     Fire  !    Come,  come,  where  be  thy  wits  ? 

THE  VOICE 

[Sleepily  from  the  forge. ~\ 
Tis  early,  dame. 

GOODY  RICKBY 
The  more  need  — 

[Takes  up  her  tongs. ~\ 

THE  VOICE 

[Screams."] 
Ow! 

GOODY  RICKBY 
Ha!     Have  I  got  thee? 


6  THE  SCARECROW 

[From  the  blackness  of  the  forge  she  pulls  out  with  her 
tongs,  by  the  right  ear,  the  figure  of  a  devil,  horned  and 
tailed.  In  general  aspect,  though  he  resembles  a  medie 
val  familiar  demon,  yet  the  suggestions  of  a  goatish 
beard,  a  shrewdly  humorous  smile,  and  (when  he 
speaks)  the  slightest  of  nasal  drawls,  remotely  simulate 
a  species  of  Yankee  rustic. 

Goody  Rickby  substitutes  her  fingers  for  the  tongs. ~\ 

Now,  Dickon ! 

DICKON 

Deus !  I  haven't  been  nabbed  like  that  since  St. 
Dunstan  tweaked  my  nose.     Well,  sweet  Goody  ? 

GOODY   RICKEY 

The  bellows ! 

DICKON 

[  Going  slowly  to  the  forge.  ~\ 

Why,  'tis  hardly  dawn  yet.     Honest  folks  are  still 
abed.     It  makes  a  long  day. 

GOODY   RICKBY 

[  Working,  while  Dickon  plies  the  bellows^ 
Aye,  for  your  black  pets,  the  crows,  to  work  in. 
That's  why  I'm  at  it  early.     You  heard   'em.     We 
must  have  this  scarecrow  of  ours  out  in  the  field  at 
his  post  before  sunrise. 

\_Finis  hing.~\ 

So,   there !      Now,    Dickon   boy,   I    want   that   you 
should  — 

DICKON 

[  Whipping  out  a  note-book  and  writing.~\ 
Wait!    Another  one!    "I  want  that  you  should — " 


THE   SCARECROW  7 

GOODY   RICKEY 

What's  that  you're  writing? 

DICKON 

The  phrase,  Goody  dear  ;  the  construction.  Your 
New  England  dialect  is  hard  for  a  poor  cosmopolitan 
devil.  What  with  lit  clauses  in  English  and  Latin 
ized  subjunctives —  You  want  that  I  should  — 

Well? 

GOODY  RICKEY 

Make  a  masterpiece.  I've  made  the  frame  strong, 
so  as  to  stand  the  weather;  you  must  make  the  body 
lifelike  so  as  to  fool  the  crows.  Last  year  I  stuck  up 
a  poor  sham  and  after  a  day  they  saw  through  it. 
This  time,  we  must  make  'em  think  it's  a  real  human 

crittur. 

DICKON 

To  fool  the  philosophers  is  my  specialty,  but  the 
crows  —  hm ! 

GOODY   RICKEY 

Pooh  !     That  staggers  thee  ! 

DICKON 

Madame  Rickby,  prod  not  the  quick  of  my  genius. 
I  am  Phidias,  I  am  Raphael,  I  am  the  Lord  God !  — 
You  shall  see  — 

[Demands  with  a  gesture^ 
Yonder  broom-stick. 

GOODY  RICKEY 

[Fetching  him  a  broom  from  the  corner.'} 
Good  boy ! 


8  THE  SCARECROW 

DICKON 

[Straddling  the  handle."} 
Haha !  gee  up !  my  Salem  mare. 

[Then,  pseudo-philosophically.'} 
A  broomstick —  that's  for  imagination  ! 

[He  begins  to  construct  the  scarecrow,  while  Goody  Rickby, 
assisting,  brings  the  constructive  parts  from  various 
nooks  and  corners.~\ 

We  are  all  pretty  artists,  to  be  sure,  Bessie.  Phid 
ias,  he  sculptures  the  gods ;  Raphael,  he  paints  the 
angels ;  the  Lord  God,  he  creates  Adam ;  and  Dickon 
—  fetch  me  the  poker  —  aha  !  Dickon  !  What  doth 
Dickon  ?  He  nullifies  'em  all ;  he  endows  the  Scare 
crow  !  —  A  poker :  here's  his  conscience.  There's  two 
fine  legs  to  walk  on,  —  imagination  and  conscience. 
Yonder  flails  now!  The  ideal  — the  beau  id/al, 
dame  —  that's  what  we  artists  seek.  The  apotheosis 
of  scarecrows!  And  pray,  what's  a  scarecrow? 
Why,  the  antithesis  of  Adam.  — "  Let  there  be 
candles ! "  quoth  the  Lord  God,  sitting  in  the  dark. 
"Let  there  be  candle-extinguishers,"  saith  Dickon. 
"I  am  made  in  the  image  of  my  maker,"  quoth 
Adam.  "  Look  at  yourself  in  the  glass,"  saith  Good 
man  Scarecrow. 

[Taking  two  implements  from  Goody  Rickby.] 

Fine!  fine!  here  are  flails  —  onejor  wit,  t'other 
for  satire..  Sapristi!  with  two  such  arms,  my  lad, 
how  thou  wilt  work  thy  way  in  the  world ! 


THE  SCARECROW  9 

GOODY  RICKEY 

You  talk  as  if  you  were  making  a  real  mortal, 
Dickon. 

DICKON 

To  -fool  a  crow,  Goody,  I  must  fashion  a  crittur 
that  will  first  deceive  a  man. 

GOODY  RICKEY 

He'll  scarce  do  that  without  a  head. 
[Pointing  to  the  loft.~] 

What  think  ye  of   yonder   Jack-o'-lantern  ?     Twas 
made  last  Hallowe'en. 

DICKON 
Rare,  my  Psyche!     We  shall  collaborate.     Here! 

[Running  up  the  ladder,  he  tosses  down  a  yellow  hollowed 
pumpkin  to  Goody  Rickby,  who  catches  it.  Then 
rummaging  forth  an  armful  of  cornstalks ',  ears,  tassels, 
dried  squashes,  gourds,  beets,  etc.,  he  descends  and 
throws  them  in  a  heap  on  the  floor.~\ 

Whist!  the  anatomy. 

GOODY  RICKEY 

[Placing  the  pumpkin  on  the  shoulders.~\ 
Look! 

DICKON 

O  Johannes  Baptista !  What  wouldst  thou  have 
given  for  such  a  head  !  I  helped  Salome  to  cut  his 
off,  dame,  and  it  looked  not  half  so  appetizing  on  her 
charger.  Tut !  Copernicus  wore  once  such  a  pump- 


IO  THE  SCARECROW 

kin,  but  it  is   rotten.     Look   at   his   golden   smile! 
Hail,  Phoebus  Apollo ! 

GOODY   RICKEY 

'  Tis  the  finest  scarecrow  in  town. 

DICKON 

Nay,  poor  soul,  'tis  but  a  skeleton  yet.     He  must 
have  a  man's  heart  in  him. 

[Picking  a  big  red  beet  from  among  the  cornstalks,  he  places 
it  under  the  left  side  of  the  ribs.~] 

Hush !     Dost  thou  hear  it  beat  ? 

GOODY   RICKEY 

Thou  merry  rogue! 

DICKON 

Now  for  the  lungs  of  him. 
[Snatching  a  small  pair  of  bellows  from  a  peg  on  the  wall .~] 

That's  for  eloquence !     He'll  preach  the  black  knaves 
a  sermon  on  theft.     And  now  — 

[Here,  with  Goody  Rickby's  .help,  he  stuffs  the  framework 
with  the  gourds,  corn,  etc.,  from  the  loft,  weaving  the 
husks  about  the  legs  and  arms.'] 

here  goes  for  digestion  and  inherited  instincts  !     More 
corn,  Goody.     Now  he'll  fight  for  his  own  flesh  and 

blood ! 

GOODY  RICKEY 

\_Laughing.~\ 
Dickon,  I  am  proud  of  thee. 


THE  SCARECROW  II 

DICKON 

Wait  till  you  see  his  peruke. 

[Seizing  a  feather  duster  made  of  crow's  feather s.~\ 
Void  !    Scalps  of  the  enemy ! 

[Pulling  them  apart,  he  arranges  the  feathers  on  the  pump 
kin,  like  a  gentleman's  wigJ] 

A  rare  conqueror ! 

GOODY  RICKEY 
Oh,  you  beauty  ! 

DICKON 

And  now  a  bit  of  comfort  for  dark  days  and  stormy 
nights. 

[Taking  a  piece  of  corn-cob  with  the  kernels  on  it,  Dickon 
makes  a  pipe,  which  he  puts  into  the  scarecrow's 
mouth.~\ 

So  !  There,  Goody  !  I  tell  thee,  with  yonder  brand- 
new  coat  and  breeches  of  mine  —  those  there  in  my 
cupboard  !  — we'll  make  him  a  lad  to  be  proud  of. 

[Taking  the  clothes,  which  Goody  Rickby  brings  —  a  pair  of 
fine  scarlet  breeches  and  a  gold-embroidered  coat  with 
ruffles  of  lace  —  he  puts  them  upon  the  scarecrow.  Then, 
eying  it  like  a  connoisseur,  makes  a  few  finishing 
touches^ 

Why,  dame,  he'll  be  a  son  to  thee. 

GOODY   RICKBY 

A  son  ?     Ay,  if  I  had  but  a  son  ! 


12  THE  SCARECROW 

DICKON 

Why,  here  you  have  him. 

[To  the  scarecrow.'] 

Thou  wilt  scare  the  crows  off  thy  mother's  corn 
field —  won't  my  pretty?  And  send  'em  all  over 
t'other  side  the  wall  —  to  her  dear  neighbour's,  the 
Justice  Gilead  Merton's. 

GOODY  RICKEY 

Justice  Merton!  Nay,  if  they'd  only  peck  his 
eyes  out,  instead  of  his  corn. 

DICKON 
[Grinning. ~\ 

Yet  the  Justice  was  a  dear  friend  of  "  Blacksmith 
Bess." 

GOODY   RICKEY 

Ay,  "  Blacksmith  Bess  !  "  If  I  hadn't  had  a  good 
stout  arm  when  he  cast  me  off  with  the  babe,  I  might 
have  starved  for  all  his  worship  cared. 

DICKON 

True,  Bessie;  'twas  a  scurvy  trick  he  played  on 
thee  —  an(i  On  me,  that  took  such  pains  to  bring  you 
together  —  to  steal  a  young  maid's  heart  — 

GOODY   RICKEY 

And  then  toss  it  away  like  a  bad  penny  to  the  gut 
ter  !  And  the  child  —  to  die  ! 

[Lifting  her  hammer  in  rage.~\ 


THE  SCARECROW  13 

Ha !  if  I  could  get  the  worshipful  Justice  Gilead  into 
my  power  again  — 

[Drops  the  hammer  sullenly  on  the  anvil. ~\ 

But  no!  I  shall  beat  my  life  away  on  this  anvil, 
whilst  my  justice  clinks  his  gold,  and  drinks  his  port 
to  a  fat  old  age.  Justice !  Ha — justice  of  God ! 

DICKON 

Whist,  dame  !  Talk  of  angels  and  hear  the  rustle 
of  their  relatives. 

GOODY   RICKEY 
[Turning,  watches  outside  a  girl's  figure  approaching.'] 

His  niece  —  Rachel  Merton!  What  can  she  want 
so  early  ?  Nay,  I  mind  me ;  'tis  the  mirror.  She's 
a  maid  after  our  own  hearts,  boy,  —  no  Sabbath-go-to- 
meeting  airs  about  her  !  She  hath  read  the  books  of 
the  magi  from  cover  to  cover,  and  paid  me  good 
guineas  for  'em,  though  her  uncle  knows  naught  on't. 
Besides,  she's  in  love,  Dickon. 

DICKON 

[Indicating  the  scarecrow.] 
Ah  ?     With  him  ?     Is  it  a  rendezvous? 

GOODY   RICKEY 
[With  a  laugh.} 
Pff !     Begone ! 

DICKON 

[Shakes  his  finger  at  the  scarecrow, .] 
Thou  naughty  rogue ! 


14  THE  SCARECROW 

{Then,  still  smiling  slyly,  with  his  head  placed  confidentially 
next  to  the  scarecrow's  ear,  as  if  whispering,  and  with 
his  hand  pointing  to  the  maiden  outside,  Dickon  fades 
away  into  air.  RACHEL  enters,  nervous  and  hesitant. 
Goody  Rickby  makes  her  a  courtesy,  which  she  acknow 
ledges  by  a  nod,  half  absent-minded.~\ 

GOODY  RICKBY 

Mistress  Rachel  Merton— so  early!     I  hope  your 
uncle,  our  worshipful  Justice,  is  not  ill  ? 

RACHEL 

No,  my  uncle  is  quite  well.     The  early  morning 
suits  me  best  for  a  walk.     You  are  — quite  alone  ? 

GOODY   RICKEY 

Quite  alone,  mistress.     {Bitterly. ~\     Oh,  folks  don't 
call  on  Goody  Rickby  —  except  on  business. 

RACHEL 

{Absently,  looking  round  in  the  dim  shop.~\ 
Yes  —  you  must  be  busy.     Is  it  —  is  it  here  ? 

GOODY  RICKEY 

You  mean  the  — 

RACHEL 

{Starting  back,  with  a  cry.~\ 
Ah  !  who's  that  ? 

GOODY   RICKBY 

[  Chuckling.~\ 
Fear  not,  mistress;  'tis  nothing  but  a  scarecrow. 


THE   SCARECROW  15 

I'm  going  to  put  him  in  my  corn-field  yonder.     The 
crows  are  so  pesky  this  year. 

RACHEL 

\_Draws  her  skirts  away  with  a  shiver. ~\ 
How  loathsome! 

GOODY   RICKEY 

[Vastly  phased^ 
He'll  do ! 

RACHEL 

Ah,  here  !—  This  is  the  mirror  ? 

GOODY   RICKEY 

Yea,  mistress,  and  a  wonderful  glass  it  is,  as  I  told 
you.  I  wouldn't  sell  it  to  most  comers,  but  seeing 
how  you  and  Master  Talbot  - 

RACHEL 

Yes ;  that  will  do. 

GOODY  RICKEY 

You  see,  if  the  town  folks  guessed  what  it  was, 
well  _  You've  heard  tell  of  the  gibbets  on  Salem 
hill  ?  There's  not  many  in  New  England  like  you, 
Mistress  Rachel.  You  know  enough  to  approve 
some  miracles  — outside  the  Scriptures. 

RACHEL 

You  are  quite  sure  the  glass  will  do  all  you  say  ? 
It  —  never  fails  ? 


1 6  THE  SCARECROW 

GOODY   RICKEY 

Ay,  now,  mistress,  how  could  it  ?  "Tis  the  glass 
of  truth  —  [insinuatingly^  the  glass  of  true  lovers. 
It  shows  folks  just  as  they  are;  no  shams,  no  var 
nish.  If  your  sweetheart  be  false,  the  glass  will  re 
veal  it.  If  a  wolf  should  dress  himself  in  a  white 
sheep's  wool,  this  glass  would  reflect  the  black  beast 
inside  it. 

RACHEL 

But  what  of  the  sins  of  the  soul,  Goody  ?  Vanity, 
hypocrisy,  and  —  and  inconstancy  ?  Will  it  surely 
reveal  them  ? 

GOODY  RICKEY 

I  have  told  you,  my  young  lady.  If  it  doth  not  as 
I  say,  bring  it  back  and  get  your  money  again.  Trust 
me,  sweeting,  'tis  your  only  mouse-trap  for  a  man. 
Why,  an  old  dame  hath  eyes  in  her  heart  yet.  If 
your  lover  be  false,  this  glass  shall  pluck  his  fine 
feathers ! 

RACHEL 
[  With  aloof  ness. 1 

'Tis  no  question  of  that.  I  wish  the  glass  to  —  to 
amuse  me. 

GOODY   RICKEY 

\_Laitghing.~] 

Why,  then,  it  shall  amuse  you.  Try  it  on  some  of 
your  neighbours. 

RACHEL 

You  ask  a  large  price  for  it. 


THE  SCARECROW  ^ 

^  GOODY  RICKEY 

[Shrugs.] 
I  run  risks.     Besides,  where  will  you  get  another  ? 

RACHEL 

That  is  true.     Here,  I  will  buy  it.     That  is  the 
sum  you  mentioned,  I  believe  ? 

[.She  hands  a  purse  to    Goody  Rickby,  who  opens  it  and 
counts  over  some  coins] 

GOODY  RICKBY 
Let  see;  let  see. 

Well?  RACHEL 

GOODY   RICKBY 

Good:  'tis  good.  Folks  call  me  a  witch,  mistress 
Well  — harkee— a  witch's  word  is  as  good  as  a 
justice's  gold.  The  glass  is  yours  — with  my  bless- 
ing. 

RACHEL 

Spare  yourself  that,  dame.  But  the  glass  :  how 
am  I  to  get  it?  How  will  you  send  it  to  me  — 
quietly  ? 

GOODY   RICKBY 

Trust  me  for  that.  I've  a  willing  lad  that  helps 
me  with  such  errands;  a  neighbour  o'  mine. 

[Calls.-] 
Ebenezer ! 

RACHEL 
[Started.] 

What !  is  he  here  ? 


1 8  THE  SCARECROW 

GOODY   RICKEY 

In  the  hay-loft.     The  boy's  an  orphan ;  he  sleeps 
there  o'  times.     Ebenezer! 

\_A  raw,  dishevelled  country  boy  appears  in  the  loft,  slides 
down  the  ladder,  and  shuffles  up  sleepily  I\ 

THE  BOY 

Evenin'. 

RACHEL 

[Drawing  Goody  Rickby  aside. ~\ 
You  understand ;  I  desire  no  comment  about  this 

purchase. 

GOODY  RICKEY 

Nor  I,  mistress,  be  sure. 

RACHEL 

Is  he  —  ? 

GOODY   RICKBY 

[Tapping  her  forehead  significantly^ 
Trust  his  wits  who  hath  no  wit ;  he's  mum. 

RACHEL 

Oh! 

THE  BOY 

[Gaping^ 
Job? 

GOODY  RICKBY 

Yea,  rumple-head!  His  job  this  morning  is  to 
bear  yonder  glass  to  the  house  of  Justice  Merton  — 
the  big  one  on  the  hill ;  to  the  side  door.  Mind,  no 
gabbing.  Doth  he  catch  ? 


THE  SCARECROW  1 9 

THE  BOY 

[Nodding  and  grinning.'} 
'E  swallows. 

RACHEL 

But  is  the  boy  strong  enough  ? 

GOODY  RICKEY 

Him? 

[Pointing  to  the  anvil^\ 
Ebenezer ! 

[  The  boy  spits  on  his  palms,  takes  hold  of  the  anvil,  lifts  it, 
drops  it  again,  sits  on  it,  and  grins  at  the  door,  just  as 
Richard  Talbot  appears  there,  from  outside. ~\ 

RACHEL 
Gracious ! 

GOODY   RICKBY 

Trust  him.     He'll  carry  the  glass  for  you. 

RACHEL 

I  will   return   home  at   once,  then.     Let   him  go 
quietly  to  the  side  door,  and  wait  for  me. 
Good  morning. 

[Turning,  she  confronts  Richard."} 

RICHARD 
Good  morning. 

RACHEL 

Richard !  —  Squire  Talbot,  you  —  you  are  abroad 
early. 


2O  THE  SCARECROW 

RICHARD 

As  early  as  Mistress  Rachel.  Is  it  pardonable? 
I  caught  sight  of  you  walking  in  this  direction,  so  I 
thought  it  wise  to  follow,  lest  — 

\_Looks  hard  at  Goody  Rukby.~\ 

RACHEL 

Very  kind.  Thanks.  I've  done  my  errand. 
Well ;  we  can  return  together. 

\To  Goody  Rickby.~] 
You  will  make  sure  that  I  receive  the  —  the  article. 

GOODY  RICKEY 
Trust  me,  mistress. 

[  Courtesying.~\ 
Squire  Talbot !  the  honour,  sir ! 

RICHARD 

[Bluntly,  looking  from  one  to  the  other.~\ 
What  article? 

[Rachel  ignores  the  question  and  starts  to  pass  out.     Rich 
ard  frowns  at  Goody  Rickby,  who  stammers.'] 

GOODY  RICKEY 
Begging  your  pardon,  sir  ? 


THE  SCARECROW  21 

RICHARD 

What  article  ?    I  said. 

\_After  a  short,  embarrassed  pause :  more  sternly '.] 
Well? 

GOODY   RICKEY 

Oh,  the  article !  Yonder  old  glass,  to  be  sure,  sir. 
A  quaint  piece,  your  honour. 

RICHARD 

Rachel,  you  haven't  come  here  at  sunrise  to  buy 
—  that  thing? 

RACHEL 

Verily,  "that  thing"  and  at  sunrise.  A  pretty 
time  for  a  pretty  purchase.  Are  you  coming  ? 

RICHARD 
\_In  a  low  voice.~\ 

More  witchcraft  nonsense  ?  Do  you  realize  this  is 
serious  ? 

RACHEL 

Oh,  of  course.  You  know  I  am  desperately  mysti 
cal,  so  pray  let  us  not  discuss  it.  Good-by. 

RICHARD 

Rachel,  just  a  moment.  If  you  want  a  mirror,  you 
shall  have  the  prettiest  one  in  New  England.  Or  I 
will  import  you  one  from  London.  Only — I  beg  of 
you  —  don't  buy  stolen  goods. 


22  THE  SCARECROW 

GOODY   RICKEY 

Stolen  goods  ? 

RACHEL 

\_Aside  to  Richard^\ 
Don't!  don't! 

RICHARD 

At  least,  articles  under  suspicion. 
\To  Goody  Rickby^ 

Can  you  account  for  this  mirror  —  how  you  came 
by  it  ? 

GOODY    RICKEY 

I'll  show  ye !     I'll  show  ye !     Stolen  —  ha ! 

RICHARD 

Come,  old  swindler,  keep  your  mirror,  and  give 
this  lady  back  her  money. 

GOODY   RICKEY 

I'll  damn  ye  both,  I  will !  —  Stolen  ! 

RACHEL 

[Imploringly. ~\ 
Will  you  come  ? 

RICHARD 

Look  you,  old  Rickby ;  this  is  not  the  first  time. 
Charm  all  the  broomsticks  in  town,  if  you  like; 
bewitch  all  the  tables  and  saucepans  and  mirrors  you 
please ;  but  gull  no  more  money  out  of  young  girls. 


THE  SCARECROW  2$ 

Mind  you!  We're  not  so  enterprising  in  this  town 
as  at  Salem ;  but  —  it  may  come  to  it !  So  look 
sharp  !  I'm  not  blind  to  what's  going  on  here. 

GOODY  RICKEY 

Not  blind,  Master  Puritan  ?  Oho  !  You  can  see 
through  all  my  counterfeits,  can  ye  ?  So  !  you  would 
scrape  all  the  wonder  out'n  the  world,  as  I've  scraped 
"all  the  meat  out'n  my  punkin-head  yonder!  Aha! 
wait  and  see !  Afore  sundown,  I'll  send  ye  a  nut  to 
crack,  shall  make  your  orthodox  jaws  ache.  Your 
servant,  Master  Deuteronomy ! 

RICHARD 
\_To  Rachel,  who  has  seized  his  arm."] 

We'll  go. 

[Exeunt  Richard  and  Rachel."} 

GOODY  RICKEY 
[  Calls  shrilly  after  them.'} 

Trot  away,  pretty  team  ;  toss  your  heads.     I'll  un 
hitch  ye  and  take  off  your  blinders. 

THE  SLOUCHING  BOY 

\_Capering  and  grimacing  in  front  of  the  mirror,  shrieks  with 

laughter. ~\ 
Ohoho ! 


24  THE  SCARECROW 

GOODY  RICKEY 
[Returning,  savagely, ,] 

Yes,  yes,  my  fine  lover!     I'll  pay  thee  for  "stolen 
goods"  —  I'll  pay  thee. 

\Screams.~\ 
Dickon!     Stop  laughing. 

THE  BOY 
O  Lord !     O  Lord ! 

GOODY  RICKEY 
What  tickles  thy  mirth  now  ? 

THE  BOY 

For  to  think  as  the  soul  of  an  orphan  innocent, 
what  lives  in  a  hay-loft,  should  wear  horns. 

[On  looking  into  the  mirror,  the  spectator  perceives  therein 
that  the  reflection  of  the  slouching  boy  is  the  horned 
demon  figure  of  Dickon,  who  performs  the  same  antics 
in  pantomime  within  the  glass  as  the  boy  does  without. ~\ 

GOODY   RICKEY 

Yea ;  'tis  a  wise  devil  that  knows  his  own  face  in 
the  glass.  But  hark  now  !  Thou  must  find  me  a  rival 
for  this  cock-squire,  —  dost  hear  ?  A  rival,  that  shall 
steal  away  the  heart  of  his  Mistress  Rachel. 

DICKON 

And  take  her  to  church  ? 


THE   SCARECROW  2$ 

GOODY  RICKEY 
To  church  or  to  Hell.     All's  one. 

DICKON 
A  rival ! 

[Pointing  at  the  glass. ~] 

How  would  he  serve  —  in  there  ?  Dear  Ebenezer  ! 
Fancy  the  deacons  in  the  vestry,  Goody,  and  her 
uncle,  the  Justice,  when  they  saw  him  escorting  the 
bride  to  the  altar,  with  his  tail  round  her  waist ! 

GOODY   RICKEY 

Tut,  tut !  Think  it  over  in  earnest,  and  meantime 
take  her  the  glass.  Wait,  we'd  best  fold  it  up  small, 
so  as  not  to  attract  notice  on  the  road. 

{Dickon,  who  has  already  drawn  the  curtains  over  the  glass, 
grasps  one  side  of  the  large  frame,  Goody  Rickby  the 
other.'] 

Now! 

[Pushing  their  shoulders  against  the  two  sides,  the  frame 
disappears  and  Dickon  holds  in  his  hand  a  mirror 
about  a  foot  square,  of  the  same  design. ,] 

So !     Be  off  !     And  mind,  a  rival  for  Richard  ! 

DICKON 

For  Richard  a  rival, 
Dear  Goody  Rickby 
Wants  Dickon's  connival : 
Lord  !     What  can  the  trick  be  ? 


26  THE  SCARECROW 

[To  the  scarecrow. ~} 
By-by,  Sonny ;  take  care  of  thy  mother. 

[Dickon  slouches  out  with  the  glass,  whistling^} 

GOODY   RICKEY 

Mother!  Yea,  if  only  I  had  a  son  — the  Jus 
tice  Merton's  and  mine!  If  the  brat  had  but  lived 
now  to  remind  him  of  those  merry  days,  which 
he  has  forgotten.  Zooks,  wouldn't  I  put  a  spoke 
in  his  wheel !  But  no  such  luck  for  me  !  No  such 
luck! 

[As  she  goes  to  the  forge,  the  stout  figure  of  a  man  appears  in 
the  doorway  behind  her.  Under  one  arm  he  carries  a 
large  book,  in  the  other  hand  a  gold-headed  cane.  He 
hesitates,  embarrassed^ 

THE  MAN 
Permit  me,  Madam. 

GOODY  RICKEY 

\Turning^\ 
Ah,  him  !  —  Justice  Merton  ! 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

[Removing  his  hat,  steps  over  the  sill,  and  lays  his  great  book 
on  the  table  ;  then  with  a  supercilious  look,  he  puts  his 
hat  firmly  on  again.} 
Permit  me,  dame. 


THE  SCARECROW 
GOODY  RICKEY 


You 


[  With  confused,  affected  hauteur,  the  Justice  shifts  from  foot 
to  foot,  flourishing  his  cane.  As  he  speaks,  Goody 
Rickby,  with  a  shrewd,  painful  expression,  draws 
slowly  backward  toward  the  door  left,  which  opens  into 
an  inner  room.  Reaching  it,  she  opens  it  part  way, 
stands  facing  him,  and  Us  tens. ~\ 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

I  have  had  the  honour  —  permit  me  —  to  entertain 
suspicions ;  to  rise  early,  to  follow  my  niece,  to  meet 
just  now  Squire  Talbot,  an  excellent  young  gentle 
man  of  wealth,  if  not  of  fashion  ;  to  hear  his  remarks 
concerning  —  hem  !  —  you,  dame  !  to  call  here  — 
permit  me  —  to  express  myself  and  inquire  — 

GOODY   RICKEY 

Concerning  your  waistcoat  ? 

[  Turning  quickly,  she  snatches  an  article  of  apparel  which 
hangs  on  the  inner  side  of  the  door,  and  holds  it  upJ\ 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

[Starting,  crimson.} 
Woman ! 

GOODY   RICKBY 

You  left  it  behind  —  the  last  time. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

I  have  not  the  honour  to  remember  — 


28  THE  SCARECROW 

GOODY  RICKEY 

The  one  I  embroidered  ? 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

Tis  a  matter  — 

GOODY  RICKEY 
Of  some  two  and  twenty  years. 

[Stretching  out  the  narrow  width  of  the  waistcoat.~\ 
Will  you  try  it  on  now,  dearie  ? 

'  4  i^  1  -     t  '• 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

Unconscionable!      Un-un-unconscionable  witch! 

GOODY  RICKEY 
Witchling  —  thou  used  to  say. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Pah!  pah!  I  forget  myself.  Pride,  permit  me, 
goeth  before  a  fall.  As  a  magistrate,  Rickby,  I  have 
already  borne  with  you  long  !  The  last  straw,  how 
ever,  breaks  the  camel's  back. 

GOODY   RICKBY 

Poor  camel ! 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

You  have  soiled,  you  have  smirched,  the  virgin 
reputation  of  my  niece.  You  have  inveigled  her 
into  notions  of  witchcraft ;  already  the  neighbours 
are  beginning  to  talk.  'Tis  a  long  lane  which  hath 
no  turning,  saith  the  Lord.  Permit  me  —  as  a  witch, 
thou  art  judged.  Thou  shalt  hang. 


THE  SCARECROW  29 

A   VOICE 

[Behind  him^\ 
And  me  too  ? 

JUSTICE  MERTON 
[Turns  about  and  stares.] 

I  beg  pardon. 

THE  VOICE 

[In  front  of  him, ,] 
Not  at  all. 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

Did  —  did  somebody  speak  ? 

THE  VOICE 

Don't  you  recognize  my  voice  ?  Still  and  small, 
you  know.  If  you  will  kindly  let  me  out,  we  can 
chat. 

JUSTICE   MERTON 
[Turning  fiercely  on  Goody  JKickbyJ] 

These  are  thy  sorceries.  But  I  fear  them  not. 
The  righteous  man  walketh  with  God. 

[Going  to  the  book  which  lies  on  the  table. ,] 

Satan,    I   ban   thee !     I   will   read   from    the    Holy 
Scriptures ! 

[Unclasping  the  Bible,  he  flings  open  the  ponderous  covers. 
—  Dickon  steps  forth  in  smoke.  ~\ 

DICKON 
Thanks ;  it  was  stuffy  in  there. 


3O  THE  SCARECROW 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

[Clasping  his  hands.] 
Dickon ! 

DICKON 

[Moving  a  step  nearer  on  the  table.] 
Hillo,  Gilly !     Hillo,  Bess ! 

JUSTICE  MERTON 
Dickon  !     No  !     No ! 

DICKON 

Do  ye  mind  Auld    Lang  Syne  —  the  chorus  that 

night,  Gilly  ? 

[Sings.] 

Gil-ead,  Gil-ead,  Gil-ead 
Merton, 

He  was  a  silly  head,  silly  head, 
Certain, 

When  he  forgot  to  steal  a  bed- 
Curtain  ! 

Encore,  now ! 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

No,  no,  be  merciful!     I  will  not  harm  her;    she 
shall  not  hang :  I  swear,  I  swear  it ! 
[Dickon  disappears^] 

I  swear  — ah!     Is  he  gone  ?     Witchcraft!     Witch 
craft!     I  have  witnessed  it.     Tis   proved   on  thee, 
slut.     I  swear  it :  thou  shalt  hang. 
[Exit  wildly^ 


THE  SCARECROW  31 

GOODY  RICKEY 

Ay,  Gilead !     I  shall  hang  on  !     Ahaha !     Dickon, 
thou  angel !     Ah,  Satan !     Satan  !     For  a  son  now ! 

DICKON 
[Reappearing.'] 
Videlicet,  in  law —  a  bastard.  •  West  ce  pas  f 

GOODY  RICKEY 

Yea,  in  law  and  in  justice,  I  should-a  had  one  now. 
Worse  luck  that  he  died. 

DICKON 
One  and  twenty  years  ago  ? 

\_Goody  Rickby  nods.'} 

Good ;  he  should  be  of  age  now.     One  and  twenty  — 
a  pretty  age,  too,  for  a  rival.     Haha  !  —  For  arrival  ? 

—  Marry,  he  shall  arrive,  then ;  arrive  and  marry  and 
inherit  his  patrimony  —  all  on  his  birthday  !     Come, 

to  work ! 

GOODY  RICKBY 

What  rant  is  this  ? 

DICKON 

Yet,  Dickon,  it  pains  me  to  perform  such  an  an 
achronism.     All  this  Medievalism  in  Massachusetts ! 

—  These  old-fashioned  flames  and  alchemic  accom 
paniments,  when  I've  tried  so  hard  to   be  a  native 
American  product ;    it,  jars.      But   che  vuole  !      I'm 
naturally  middle-aged.     I  haven't  been  really  myself, 
let  me  think,  —  since  1492  ! 


32  THE  SCARECROW 

GOODY   RICKEY 

What  art  thou  mooning  about  ? 

DICKON 
[Still  impenetrable. ] 

There  was  my  old  friend  in  Germany,  Dr.  Johann 
Faustus;  he  was  nigh  such  a  bag  of  old  rubbish  when 
I  made  him  over.  Ain't  it  trite !  No,  you  can't 
teach  an  old  dog  like  me  new  tricks.  Still,  a  scare 
crow !  that's  decidedly  local  color.  Come  then;  a 
Yankee  masterpiece ! 

[Seizing  Goody  Rickby  by  the  arm,  and  placing  her  before  the 
scarecrow,  he  makes  a  bow  and  wave  of  introduction^ 

Behold,  madam,  your  son  —  illegitimate;  the  fu 
ture  affianced  of  Mistress  Rachel  Merton,  the  heir- 
elect,  through  matrimony,  of  Merton  House,  —  Gilead 
Merton  second ;  Lord  Ravensbane !  Your  lordship 
—  your  mother. 

GOODY   RICKBY 

Dickon !     Can  you  do  it  ? 

DICKON 
I  can  —  try. 

GOODY  RICKBY 

You  will  create  him  for  me  ?  — 

[Wickedly^ 
and  for  Gilead ! 

DICKON 
I  will  —  for  a  kiss. 


THE  SCARECROW  33 

GOODY   RICKEY 

\_About  to  embrace  him.~\ 
Dickon ! 

DICKON 
[Dodging  her.~\ 
Later.     Now,  the  waistcoat. 

GOODY  RICKEY 
\Handing  //.] 

Rare !  rare !  He  shall  go  wooing  in't  —  like  his 
father. 

DICKON 

^Shifting  the  'scarecrow's  gold-trimmed  coat,   slips   on   the 
embroidered  waistcoat  and  replaces  the  coat.~\ 

Stand  still,  Jack !  So,  my  macaroni.  Perfecto  ! 
Stay  —  a  walking-stick  ! 

GOODY   RICKEY 
[  Wrenching  a  spoke  out  of  an  old  rickety  wheell\ 

Here :  the  spoke  for  Gilead.  He  used  to  take  me 
to  drive  in  the  chaise  it  came  out  of. 

DICKON 

\_Placing  the  spoke  as  a  cane,  in  the  scarecrow's  sleeve,  views 
him  with  satisfaction."} 

Sic  !  There,  Jacky  !  Filius  fit  non  nascitur.  —  Sam 
Hill !  My  Latin  is  stale.  "  In  the  beginning,  was 
the —  gourd  !  "  Of  these  thy  modest  ingredients  may 
thy  spirit  smack  ! 


34 


THE  SCARECROW 


[Making  various  mystic  passes  with  his  hands,  Dickon  in 
tones,  now  deep  and  solemn,  now  with  fanciful  shrill 
rapidity,  this  incantation  .•] 

Flail,  flip; 
Broom,  sweep ; 

Sic  itur  ! 
Cornstalk 
And  turnip,  talk ! 

Turn  crittur ! 

Pulse,  beet ; 
Gourd,  eat ; 

Ave  Hellas ! 
Poker  and  punkin, 
Stir  the  old  junk  in: 

Breathe,  bellows ! 

Corn-cob, 

And  crow's  feather, 
End  the  job : 

Jumble  the  rest  o'  the  rubbish  together ; 
Dovetail  and  tune  'em. 
E  pluribus  unum  ! 

[The  scarecrow  remains  stock  still.'] 

The  devil !     Have    I    lost   the  hang  of   it  ?     Ah ! 

Hullo!      He's  dropped    his   pipe.     What's   a  dandy 

without  his  'baccy  ! 

[Restoring  the  corn-cob  pipe  to  the  scarecrow's  moufh.~\ 
Tis  the  life  and  breath  of  him.     So ;  hand  me  yon 

hazel  switch,  Goody. 


THE  SCARECROW  35 

[  Waving  it.~\ 

Presto  ! 

Brighten,  coal, 
I'  the  dusk  between  us  ! 
Whiten,  soul  ! 
Propinquit  Venus! 

\_A  whiff  of  smoke  puffs  from  the  scarecrow^  s  pipe.  ~\ 
Sic  !  Sic  !  Jacobus  ! 

[Another  whiff.  ,] 
Bravo  ! 

{The  whiffs  grow  more  rapid  and  the  thing  trembles.  ~\ 

GOODY  RICKEY 
Puff  !  puff,  manny,  for  thy  life  ! 

DICKON 
Fiat,  foetus  !  —  Huzza  !     Noch  einmal!     Go  it  ! 

[Clouds  of  smoke  issue  from  the  pipe,  half  fill  the  shop,  and 
envelop  the  creature,  who  staggers  *~\ 

GOODY  RICKEY 
See  !     See  his  eyes  ! 

*  Here  the  living  actor,  through  a  trap,  concealed  by  the  smoke, 
will  substitute  himself  for  the  elegantly  clad  effigy.  His  make-up,  of 
course,  will  approximate  to  the  latter,  but  the  grotesque  contours  of  his 
expression  gradually,  throughout  the  remainder  of  the  act,  become 
refined  and  sublimated  till,  at  the  finale,  they  are  of  a  lordly  and 
distinguished  caste. 


•' 


36  THE  SCARECROW 

DICKON 

[Beckoning  with  one  finger] 

Veni,  fill  !   Veni  !  Take  'ee  first  step,  bambino  !  — 
Toddle  ! 

[The  Scarecrow  makes  a  stiff  lurch  forward  and  falls  side- 
wise  against  the  anvil,  propped  half  -re  dining  against 
which  he  leans  rigid,  emitting  fainter  puffs  of  smoke  in 


GOODY  RICKEY 

[Screams."] 
Have  a  care  !     He's  fallen. 

DICKON 

Well  done,  Punkin  Jack  !     Thou  shalt  be  knighted 
for  that  ! 

[Striking  him  on  the  shoulder  with  the  hazel  rod."] 
Rise,  Lord  Ravensbane  ! 

[The  Scarecrow  totters  to  his  feet,  and  makes  a  forlorn  rec 
tilinear  salutation.] 

GOODY   RICKEY 

Look  !  He  bows.  —  He  flaps  his  flails  at  thee.     He 
smiles  like  a  tik-doo-loo-roo  ! 

DICKON 

[  With  a  profound  reverence,  backing  away] 
Will  his  lordship  deign  to  follow  his  tutor  ? 
[With  hitches  and  jerks,  the  Scarecrow  follows  Dickon.] 


THE  SCARECROW  37 

GOODY  RICKEY 

O  Lord  !  Lord !  the  style  o'  the  broomstick ! 

DICKON 

[Holding  ready  a  high-backed  chair.} 
Will  his  lordship  be  seated  and  rest  himself  ? 
[Awkwardly  the  Scarecrow  half  falls  into  the  chair;  his 
head  sinks  sideways,  and  his  pipe  falls  out.     Dickon 
snatches  it  up  instantly  and  restores  it  to  his  mouth.] 
Puff!  Puff,  puer;  'tis  thy  life. 

[The  Scarecrow  puffs  again.'] 
Is  his  lordship's  tobacco  refreshing  ? 

GOODY   RICKEY 

Look  now !     The  red  colour  in  his  cheeks.     The 
beet-juice  is  pumping,  oho  ! 

DICKON 

[Offering  his  arm.] 

Your  lordship  will  deign  to  receive  an  audience? 
[The  Scarecrow  takes  his  arm  and  rises. ~\ 

The    Marchioness  of    Rickby,  your   lady   mother, 
entreats  leave  to  present  herself. 


My  son 


GOODY   RICKBY 
[  Courtesying  low.] 


38  THE  SCARECROW 

DICKON 

\_Holding  the  pipe,  and  waving  the  hazel  rod.~\ 
Dicite  !     Speak ! 

[The   Scarecrow,  blowing  out  his  last  mouthful  of  smoke, 
opens  his  mouth,  gasps,  gurgles,  and  is  silent^ 

In  principle  erat  verbiim  !     Accost  thy  mother ! 

[The  Scarecrow,  clutching  at  his  side  in  a  struggle  for  co 
herence,  fixes  a  pathetic  look  of  pain  on  Goody  Rickby^\ 

THE  SCARECROW 

Mother ! 

GOODY  RICKEY 

[  With  a  scream  of  hysterical  laughter,  seizes  both  Dickorfs 
hands  and  dances  him  about  the  forge. ~\ 

O  Beelzebub !     I  shall  die ! 

DICKON 
Thou  hast  thy  son. 

\_Dickon  whispers  in  the  Scarecrow"**  ear,  shakes  his  finger, 
and  exit.~\ 

GOODY  RICKEY 

He  called  me  "mother."     Again,  boy,  again. 

THE  SCARECROW 

From  the  bottom  of  my  heart  —  mother. 

GOODY  RICKEY 

"  The  bottom  of  his  heart "  —  Nay,  thou  killest  me. 


THE  SCARECROW  39 

THE  SCARECROW 

Permit  me,  madam ! 

GOODY  RICKEY 

Gilead !    Gilead  himself  !    Waistcoat,  "  permit  me," 
and  all :  thy  father  over  again,  I  tell  thee. 

THE   SCARECROW 
[  With  a  slight  stammer.~\ 

It  gives  me  —  I  assure  you  —  lady  —  the  deepest 
happiness. 

GOODY   RICKEY 

Just  so  the  old  hypocrite  spoke  when  I  said  I'd  have 
him.     But  thou  hast  a  sweeter  deference,  my  son. 

[Reenter  Dickon;   he  is  dressed  all  in  black,  save  for  a 
white  stock,  —  a  suit  of  plain  elegance .] 

DICKON 

Now,  my  lord,  your  tutor  is  ready. 

THE   SCARECROW 
\_To  Goody  Rickbyl\ 

I  have  the  honour  —  permit  me  —  to  wish  you  — 
good  morning. 

\_Bows  and  takes  a  step  after  Dickon,  who,  taking  a  three- 
cornered  cocked  hat  from  a  peg,  goes  toward  the  door.~\ 

GOODY   RICKEY 

Whoa  !     Whoa,  Jack  !     Whither  away  ? 


4O  THE  SCARECROW 

DICKON 

[Presenting  the  hat.~\ 
Deign  to  reply,  sir. 

THE  SCARECROW 

I  go  —  with  my  tutor  —  Master  Dickonson  —  to 
pay  my  respects  —  to  his  worship  —  the  Justice  — 
Merton — to  solicit  —  the  hand  —  of  his  daughter  — 
the  fair  Mistress  —  Rachel. 

[  With  another  l>ow.~] 
Permit  me. 

GOODY  RICKEY 

Permit  ye  ?  God  speed  ye !  Thou  must  teach  him 
his  tricks,  Dickon. 

DICKON 

Trust  me,  Goody.  Between  here  and  Justice  Mer- 
ton's,  I  will  play  the  mother-hen,  and  I  promise  thee, 
our  bantling  shall  be  as  stuffed  with  compliments  as 
a  callow  chick  with  caterpillars. 

\As  he  throws  open  the  big  doors,  the  cawing  of  crows  is 
heard  again, .] 

Hark !  your  lordship's  retainers  acclaim  you  on  your 
birthday.  They  bid  you  welcome  to  your  majority. 
Listen !  "  Long  live  Lord  Ravensbane  !  Caw !  " 

GOODY  RICKEY 

Look!    Count  'em,  Dickon. 


THE  SCARECROW  41 

One  for  sorrow, 
Two  for  mirth, 
Three  for  a  wedding, 
Four  for  a  birth  — 

Four  on  'em !  So !  Good  luck  on  thy  birthday ! 
And  see !  There's  three  on  'em  flying  into  the  Jus 
tice's  field. 

—  Flight  o'  the  crows 

Tells  how  the  wind  blows  !  — 

A  wedding  !  Get  ye  gone.  Wed  the  girl,  and  sting 
the  Justice.  Bless  ye,  my  son  ! 

THE  SCARECROW 
[  With  a  profound  reverence."] 

Mother  —  believe  me  —  to  be  —  your  ladyship's  — 
most  devoted  —  and  obedient  —  son. 

DICKON 

[Prompting  him  aloudJ] 
Ravensbane. 

THE   SCARECROW 

[Donning  his  hat,  lifts  his  head  in  hauteur,  shakes  his  lace 
ruffle  over  his  hand,  turns  his  shoulder,  nods  slightly, 
and  speaks  for  the  first  time  with  complete  mastery  of 
his  voice.'] 

Hm !  Ravensbane ! 

[With  one  hand  in  the  arm  of  Dickon,  the  other  twirling  his 
cane  (the  converted  chaise-spoke],  wreathed  in  halos  of 
smoke  from  his  pipe ',  the  fantastical  figure  hitches  ele 
gantly  forth  into  the  daylight,  amid  louder  acclamations 
of  the  crows, ,] 


ACT   II 


ACT   II 

The  same  morning.  Justice  Merton's  parlour,  furnished  and 
designed  in  the  style  of  the  early  colonial  period.  On 
the  right  wall,  hangs  a  portrait  of  the  Justice  as  a  young 
man ;  on  the  left  wall,  an  old-fashioned  looking-glass. 
At  the  right  of  the  room  stands  the  Glass  of  Truth, 
draped —  as  in  the  blacksmith  shop  —  with  the  strange, 
embroidered  curtain. 

In  front  of  it  are  discovered  RACHEL  and  RICHARD  ;  Rachel 
is  about  to  draw  the  curtain. 

RACHEL 

Now  !  Are  you  willing  ? 

RICHARD 

So  you  suspect  me  of  dark,  villainous  practices  ? 

RACHEL 

No,  no,  foolish  Dick. 

RICHARD 

Still,  I  am  to  be  tested;  is  that  it? 

RACHEL 

That's  it. 

RICHARD 

As  your  true  lover. 

45 


46  THE  SCARECROW" 

RACHEL 

Well,  yes. 

RICHARD 

Why,  of  course,  then,  I  consent.  A  true  lover 
always  consents  to  the  follies  of  his  lady-love. 

RACHEL 

Thank  you,  Dick;  I  trust  the  glass  will  sustain 
your  character.  Now  ;  when  I  draw  the  curtain  — 

RICHARD 

[Staying  her  hand.'] 
What  if  I  be  false  ? 

RACHEL 

Then,  sir,  the  glass  will  reflect  you  as  the  subtle 
fox  that  you  are. 

RICHARD 
And  you  —  as  the  goose  ? 

RACHEL 

Very  likely.  Ah  !  but,  Richard  dear,  we  mustn't 
laugh.  It  may  prove  very  serious.  You  do  not 
guess  —  you  do  not  dream  all  the  mysteries  — 

RICHARD 
[Shaking  his  head,  with  a  grave  smile. ~\ 

You  pluck  at  too  many  mysteries;  sometime  they 
may  burn  your  fingers.  Remember  our  first  mother 
Eve! 


THE  SCARECROW  47 

RACHEL 

But  this  is  the  glass  of  truth;  and  Goody  Rickby 
told  me  — 

RICHARD 

Rickby,  forsooth! 

RACHEL 

Nay,  come ;  let's  have  it  over. 

[She  draws  the  curtain,  covers  her  eyes,  steps  back  by 
Richard's  side,  looks  at  the  glass,  and  gives  a  joyous 
cry.'} 

Ah  !  there  you  are,  dear!  There  we  are,  both  of  us  — 
just  as  we  have  always  seemed  to  each  other,  true. 
'Tis  proved.  Isn't  it  wonderful  ? 

RICHARD 

Miraculous !  That  a  mirror  bought  in  a  black 
smith  shop,  before  sunrise,  for  twenty  pounds,  should 
prove  to  be  actually  —  a  mirror  ! 

RACHEL 
Richard,  I'm  so  happy. 

[Enter  JUSTICE  MERTON  and  MISTRESS  MERTON.] 

RICHARD 
[Embracing  her.~\ 

Happy,  art  thou,  sweet  goose?  Why,  then,  God 
bless  Goody  Rickby. 

JUSTICE   MERTON 
Strange  words  from  you,  Squire  Talbot. 


4§  THE  SCARECROW 

{Rachel  and  Richard  part  quickly ;  Rachel  draws  the  cur 
tain  over  the  mirror  ;  Richard  stands  stiffly.'} 

RICHARD 

Justice  Merton !     Why,  sir,  the  old  witch  is  more 
innocent,  perhaps,  than  I  represented  her. 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

A  witch,  believe  me,  is  never  innocent. 
[Taking  their  hands,   he  brings  them    together  and  kisses 
Rachel  on  the  forehead.] 

Permit  me,  young  lovers.     I  was  once  young  myself, 
young  and  amorous. 

MISTRESS   MERTON 

\In  a  low  voice. ~\ 
Verily! 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

My  fair  niece,  my  worthy  young  man,  beware  of 
witchcraft. 

MISTRESS   MERTON 

And  Goody  Rickby,  too,  brother  ? 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

That  woman  shall  answer  for  her  deeds.     She  is 
proscribed. 

RACHEL 

Proscribed?     What  is  that? 

MISTRESS   MERTON 
[Examining  the  mirror."] 
What  is  this? 


THE  SCARECROW  49 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

She  shall  hang. 

RACHEL 

Uncle,  no!    Not  merely  because  of  my  purchase 
this  morning. 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

Your  purchase? 

MISTRESS   MERTON 
\_Pointing  to  the  mirror.~\ 
That,  I  suppose. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

What !  you  purchased  that  mirror  of   her  ?     You 
brought  it  here  ? 

RACHEL 

No,  the  boy  brought  it;  I  found  it  here  when  I 
returned. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

What !    From  her  !    You  purchased  it  ?    From  her 
shop  ?     From  her  infamous  den,  into  my  parlour ! 

{To  Mistress  Merton.~] 
Call  the  servant. 

{Himself  calling.'] 

Micah  !      This  instant,  this  instant  —  away  with  it ! 
Micah ! 

RACHEL 

Uncle  Gilead,  I  bought  — 


50  THE  SCARECROW 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Micah,  I  say  !     Where  is  the  man  ? 

RACHEL 
Listen,  Uncle.     I  bought  it  with  my  own  money. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Thine  own  money !  Wilt  have  the  neighbours 
gossip  ?  Wilt  have  me,  thyself,  my  house,  suspected 
of  complicity  with  witches  ? 

\Enter  MICAH.  ] 
Micah,  take  this  away. 

MICAH 

Yes,  sir;  but,  sir  — 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Out  of  my  house  ! 

MICAH 

There  be  visitors. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Away  with  — 

MISTRESS  MERTON 

\Touching  his  arm.~\ 
Gilead ! 

MICAH 
Visitors,  sir;  gentry. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 
Ah! 


THE   SCARECROW  5! 

MICAH 
Shall  I  show  them  in,  sir  ? 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Visitors  !     In  the  morning  ?     Who  are  they  ? 

MICAH 

Strangers,  sir.  I  should  judge  they  be  very  high 
gentry ;  lords,  sir. 

ALL 
Lords! 

MICAH 

At  least,  one  on  'em,  sir.  The  other  — the  dark 
gentleman  — told  me  they  left  their  horses  at  the  inn, 
sir. 

MISTRESS   MERTON 

Hark ! 

[The  faces  of  all  wear  suddenly  a  startled  expression^ 
Where  is  that  unearthly  sound  ? 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

\_Listening.~\ 
Is  it  in  the  cellar  ? 

MICAH 

Tis  just  the  dog  howling,  madam.    When  he  spied 
the  gentry  he  turned  tail  and  run  below. 

MISTRESS   MERTON 

Oh,  the  dog ! 


52  THE   SCARECROW 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

Show   the  gentlemen  here,    Micah.     Don't  keep 
them  waiting. 

\Exit  MICAH.] 
A  lord ! 

{To  Rachel^ 

We  shall  talk  of  this  matter  later.  —  A  lord ! 

{Turning  to  the  small  glass  on  the  wall,  he  arranges  his 
peruke  and  attire.~\ 

RACHEL 
{To  Richard^ 

What  a  fortunate  interruption !     But,  dear  Dick ! 
I  wish  we  needn't  meet  these  strangers  now. 

RICHARD 

Would  you  really  rather  we  were  alone  together  ? 
{They  chat  aside,  absorbed  in  each  other. ~\ 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Think  of  it,  Cynthia,  a  lord ! 

MISTRESS  MERTON 

{Dusting  the  furniture  hastily  with  her  handker chief. ~\ 
And  such  dust ! 

RACHEL 
{To  Richard.} 

You  know,  dear,  we  need  only  be  introduced,  and 
then  we  can  steal  away  together. 
{Reenter  MICAH.] 


THE  SCARECROW  53 

MICAH 
\_Announring.~\ 

Lord  Ravensbane:  Marquis  of  Oxford,  Baron  of 
Wittenberg,  Elector  of  Worms,  and  Count  of  Cordova ; 
Master  Dickonson. 

[Enter  RAVENSBANE  and  DICKON.] 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Gentlemen,  permit  me,  you  are  excessively  wel 
come.  I  am  deeply  gratified  to  meet  — 

DICKON 

Lord  Ravensbane,  of  the  Rookeries,  Somersetshire. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Lord  Ravensbane  —  his  lordship's  most  truly 
honoured. 

RAVENSBANE 

Truly  honoured. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 
[  Turning  to  Dickon.'] 

His  lordship's  —  ? 

DICKON 
Tutor. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

[  Checking  his  effusiveness."} 
Ah,  so ! 

DICKON 

Justice  Merton,  I  believe. 


54  THE  SCARECROW 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

Of  Merton  House.  —  May  I  present  —  permit  me, 
your  lordship  —  my  sister,  Mistress  Merton. 

RAVENSBANE 

Mistress  Merton. 

JUSTICE   MERTON 
And  my  —  and  my  — 

[  Under  his  breath.~\ 
Rachel ! 

\_Rachel  remains  with  a  bored  expression  behind  Richard.~\ 

— my  young  neighbour,  Squire  Talbot,  Squire  Rich 
ard  Talbot  of  —  of  — 

RICHARD 
Of  nowhere,  sir. 

RAVENSBANE 

{Nods.'] 
Nowhere. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

And  permit  me,   Lord  Ravensbane,  my  niece  — 
Mistress  Rachel  Merton. 

RAVENSBANE 
[Bows  low.~\ 
Mistress  Rachel  Merton. 

RACHEL 
[  Courtesies^ 
Lord  Ravensbane. 


THE  SCARECROW  55 

{As  they  raise  their  heads,  their  eyes  meet  and  are  fascinated. 
Dickon  just  then  takes  RavensbanJs  pipe  and  fills  it.] 

RAVENSBANE 

Mistress  Rachel ! 

RACHEL 

Your  lordship ! 

[Dickon  returns  the  pipe ] 

MISTRESS  MERTON 
A  pipe  !     Gilead  !  —  in  the  parlour ! 

\_Justice  Merton  frowns  silence.] 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Your  lordship  —ahem !  —  has  just  arrived  in  town? 

DICKON 
From  London,  via  New  Amsterdam. 

RICHARD 
[Aside] 
Is  he  staring  <&you?    Are  you  ill,  Rachel? 

RACHEL 

[Indifferently.] 

What? 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Lord  Ravensbane  honours  my  humble  roof. 


56  THE   SCARECROW 

DICKON 

[Touches  Ravensbane's  arm."] 
Your  lordship  —  "  roof." 

RAVENSBANE 
[Starting,  turns  to  Merton.~} 

Nay,  sir,  the  roof  of  my  father's  oldest  friend  be 
stows  generous  hospitality  upon  his  only  son. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Only  son  —  ah,  yes !     Your  father  — 

RAVENSBANE 

My  father,  I  trust,  sir,  has  never  forgotten  the 
intimate  companionship,  the  touching  devotion,  the 
unceasing  solicitude  for  his  happiness  which  you, 
sir,  manifested  to  him  in  the  days  of  his  youth. 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

Really,  your  lordship,  the— the  slight  favours  which 
—  hem  !  some  years  ago,  I  was  privileged  to  show 
your  illustrious  father  — 

RAVENSBANE 

Permit  me!  — Because,  however,  of  his  present 
infirmities  —  for  I  regret  to  say  that  my  father  is 
suffering  a  temporary  aberration  of  mind  — 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

You  distress  me ! 


THE  SCARECROW  57 

RAVENSBANE 

My  lady  mother  has  charged  me  with  a  double 
mission  here  in  New  England.  On  my  quitting  my 
home,  sir,  to  explore  the  wideness  and  the  mystery 
of  this  world,  my  mother  bade  me  be  sure  to  call 
upon  his  worship,  the  Justice  Merton  ;  and  deliver 
to  him,  first,  my  father's  remembrances  ;  and  sec 
ondly,  my  mother's  epistle. 

DICKON 

\_Handing  to  Justice  Merton  a  sealed  document^ 
Her  ladyship's  letter,  sir. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

[Examining  the  seal  with   awe,  speaks  aside   to  Mistress 
Merton.^ 

Cynthia !  —  a  crested  seal ! 

DICKON 
His  lordship's  crest,  sir :  rooks  rampant. 

JUSTICE   MERTON 
\_Embarrassed,  breaks  the  seal.~\ 
Permit  me. 

RACHEL 
[Looking  at  Ravensbane.~\ 

Have  you  noticed  his  bearing,  Richard :  what  per 
sonal  distinction  !  what  inbred  nobility  !  Every  inch 
a  true  lord ! 


58  THE   SCARECROW 

RICHARD 

He  may  be  a  lord,  my  dear,  but  he  walks  like  a 
broomstick. 

RACHEL 

How  dare  you  ! 

[  Turns  abruptly  away  ;  as  she  does  so,  a  fold  of  her  gown 
catches  in  a  chair.~\ 

DICKON 

[To  Justice  Merton.~\ 
A  word,  sir. 

JUSTICE   MERTON 
[Glancing  up  from  the  letter •.] 
I  am  astonished  —  overpowered ! 

RAVENSBANE 

Mistress  Rachel  —  permit  me. 

[Stooping,  he  extricates  the  fold  of  her  gown.  ~\ 

RACHEL 

Oh,  thank  you. 

[They  go  aside  together ?[ 

RICHARD 
[71?  Mistress  Merton.~\ 

So  Lord  Ravensbane  and  his  family  are  old  friends 
of  yours  ? 

MISTRESS  MERTON 
[Mo  no  syllabic  ally.  ] 
I  never  heard  the  name  before,  Richard. 


THE  SCARECROW  59 

RICHARD 

Why!  but  I  thought  that  your  brother,  the  Jus 
tice— 

MISTRESS   MERTON 

The  Justice  is  reticent. 

RICHARD 

Ah! 

MISTRESS   MERTON 

Especially  concerning  his  youth. 

RICHARD 

Ah! 

RAVENSBANE 
\_To  Rachel,  taking  her  hand  after  a  whisper  from  Dickon, .] 

Believe  me,  sweet  lady,  it  will  give  me  the  deepest 
pleasure. 

RACHEL 

Can  you  really  tell  fortunes  ? 

RAVENSBANE 

More  than  that;  I  can  bestow  them. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 
\To  Dickon] 

But  is  her  ladyship  really  serious  ?     An  offer  of 
marriage ! 

DICKON 

Pray  read  it  again,  sir. 


6O  THE   SCARECROW 

JUSTICE  MERTON 
[Reads.-] 

"To  the  Worshipful,  the  Justice  Gilead  Merton, 

"Merton  House. 
"My  Honourable  Friend  and  Benefactor  : 

"  With  these  brief  lines  I  commend  to  you  our 
son  "  —  our  son! 

DICKON 

She  speaks  likewise  for  his  young  lordship's 
father,  sir. 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

Ah !  of  course. 

[Reads.'] 

"  In  a  strange  land,  I  intrust  him  to  you  as  to  a 
father."  Honoured,  believe  me!  "I  have  only  to 
add  my  earnest  hope  that  the  natural  gifts,  graces, 
and  inherited  fortune  "  —  ah  —  ! 

DICKON 
Twenty  thousand  pounds  — on  his  father's  demise. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Ah!  —  "fortune  of  this  young  scion  of  nobility  will 
so  propitiate  the  heart  of  your  niece,  Mistress  Rachel 
Merton,  as  to  cause  her  to  accept  his  proffered  hand 
in  matrimony;"  —  but— but — but  Squire  Talbot  is 
betrothed  to— well,  well,  we  shall  see;— "in  matri 
mony,  and  thus  cement  the  early  bonds  of  interest 
and  affection  between  your  honoured  self  and  his 


THE  SCARECROW  6 1 

lordship's  father;  not  to  mention,  dear  sir,  your  wor 
ship's  ever  grateful  and  obedient  admirer, 

"  ELIZABETH, 

"  Marchioness  of  R." 

Of  R. !  of  R. !  Will  you  believe  me,  my  dear  sir, 
so  long  is  it  since  my  travels  in  England — I  visited  at 
so  many — hem  !  noble  estates  —  permit  me,  it  is  so 
awkward,  but  — 

DICKON 

[  With  his  peculiar  intonation  of  Act  /.] 

Not  at  all. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

[Starting.'} 

I — I  confess,  sir,  my  youthful  memory  fails  me. 
Will  you  be  so  very  obliging;  this  —  this  Marchioness 
of  R.— ? 

DICKON 

\_Enjoying  his  discomfiture^ 
Yes? 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

The  R,  I  presume,  stands  for  — 

DICKON 

Rickby. 

RAVENSBANE 

[Calls.'} 
Dickon,  my  pipe ! 

[Dickon  glides  away  to  fill  Ravembane's  pipe.] 


62  THE  SCARECROW 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

[Stands  bewildered  and  horror- struck, ,] 
Great_God  !  —Thou  inexorable  Judge  ! 

RICHARD 

o  Mistress  Merton,  scowling  at  Ravensbane  and  Rachel^ 
Are  these  court  manners,  in  London? 

MISTRESS  MERTON 
Don't  ask  me,  Richard. 

RAVENSBANE 

[Dejectedly  to  Rachel,  as  Dickon  is  refilling  his  pipe '.] 
Alas !     Mistress  Rachel  is  cruel. 

RACHEL 

I? — cruel,  your  lordship  ? 

RAVENSBANE 

Your  own  white  hand  has  written  it. 
[Lifting  her  palm. ,] 

See,  these  lines:    Rejection!    you  will  reject  one 
who  loves  you  dearly. 

RACHEL 

Fie,  your  lordship !     Be  not  cast  down  at  fortune- 
telling.     Let  me  tell  yours,  may  I  ? 

RAVENSBANE 

[Rapturously  holding  his  palm  for  her  to  examine^ 
Ah!     Permit  me. 


THE   SCARECROW  63 

JUSTICE   MERTON 
[Murmurs,  in  terrible  agitation] 
Dickon  !     Can  it  be  Dickon  ? 

RACHEL 

Why,  Lord  Ravensbane,  your  pulse.  Really,  if  I 
am  cruel,  you  are  quite  heartless.  I  declare  I  can't 
feel  your  heart  beat  at  all. 

RAVENSBANE 

Ah  !  mistress,  that  is  because  I  have  just  lost  it. 

RACHEL 

[Archly.] 
Where  ? 

RAVENSBANE 

[Faintly] 
Dickon,  my  pipe ! 

RACHEL 

Alas  !  my  lord,  are  you  ill  ? 

DICKON 
[Restoring  the  lighted  pipe  to  Ravensbane,  speaks  aside] 

Pardon  me,  sweet  young  lady,  I  must  confide  to 
you  that  his  lordship's  heart  is  peculiarly  responsive 
to  his  emotions.  When  he  feels  very  ardently,  it 
quite  stops.  Hence  the  use  of  his  pipe. 

RACHEL 
Oh !     Is  smoking,  then,  necessary  for  his  heart  ? 


64  THE  SCARECROW 

DICKON 

Absolutely  —  to  equilibrate  the  valvular  palpita 
tions.  Without  his  pipe  —  should  his  lordship  expe 
rience,  for  instance,  the  emotion  of  love  —  he  might 
die. 

RACHEL 

You  alarm  me ! 

DICKON 

But  this  is  for  you  only,  Mistress  Rachel.  We 
may  confide  in  you  ? 

RACHEL 

Oh,  utterly,  sir. 

DICKON 
His  lordship,  you  know,  is  so  sensitive. 

RAVENSBANE 
[To  Rachel^ 

You  have  given  it  back  to  me.  Why  did  not  you 
keep  it  ? 

RACHEL 
What,  my  lord  ? 

RAVENSBANE 

My  heart. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

[To  Dickon.} 
Permit  me,  one  moment ;  I  did  not  catch  your  name. 

DICKON 

My  name  ?     Dickonson. 


THE  SCARECROW  65 

JUSTICE   MERTON 
[  With  a  gasp  of  relief^ 
Ah,  Dickonson  !     Thank  you.     I  mistook  the  word. 

DICKON 
A  compound,  your  worship. 

[  With  a  malignant  smile^\ 
Dickon- 

\Then  jerking  his  thumb  over  his  shoulder  at  Ravensbanel\ 

son ! 

\BowingI\ 

Both  at  your  service. 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

If  —  if  you  can  show  pity  —  speak  low. 

DICKON 

As  hell,  your  worship  ? 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Is  he  —  he  there  ? 

DICKON 

Bessie's  brat;  yes;  it  didn't  die,  after  all,  poor 
suckling !  Dickon  weaned  it.  Saved  it  for  balm  of 
Gilead.  Raised  it  for  joyful  home-coming.  Prodi 
gal's  return  !  Twenty-first  birthday  !  Happy  son  ! 
Happy  father! 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

My  —  son  ! 

F 


66  THE  SCARECROW 

DICKON 

Felicitations ! 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

I  will  not  believe  it. 

DICKON 

Truth  is  hard  fare. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

[Faintly] 
What  —  what  do  you  want  ? 

DICKON 

Only  the  happiness  of  your  dear  ones. 

[Indicating  Rachel  and  Ravensbanel\ 
The  union  of  these  young  hearts  and  hands. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

What !  he  will  dare  —  an  illegitimate  — 

DICKON 

Fie,  fie,  Gilly  !     Why,  the  brat  is  a  lord  now. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Oh,  the  disgrace !     Spare  me  that,  Dickon. 

RICHARD 

[In  a  low  voice  to  Rachel,  who  is  talking  in  a  fascinated 
manner  to  Ravensbanel\ 

Are  you  mad  ? 


THE   SCARECROW  6? 

RACHEL 

{Indifferently^ 
What  is  the  matter  ? 

[Laughing,  to  Ravensbane^\ 
Oh,  your  lordship  is  too  witty ! 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

[To  Dickon.} 
After  all,  I  was  young  then. 

DICKON 

Quite  so. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

And  she  is  innocent ;  she  is  already  betrothed. 

DICKON 

Twiddle-twaddle !     Look  at  her  eyes  now  ! 

[Rachel  is  still  telling  Ravensbane*  s  fortune ;  and  they  are 
manifestly  absorbed  in  each  other. ~\ 

Tis  a  brilliant  match ;  besides,  her  ladyship's  heart 
is  set  upon  it. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Her  ladyship  —  ? 

DICKON 

The  Marchioness  of  Rickby. 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

[Glowering^ 
I  had  forgotten. 


68  THE   SCARECROW 

DICKON 

Her  ladyship  has  never  forgotten.  So,  you  see, 
your  worship's  alternatives  are  most  simple.  Alter 
native  one :  advance  his  lordship's  suit  with  your 
niece  as  speedily  as  possible,  and  save  all  scandal. 
Alternative  two  :  impede  his  lordship's  suit,  and  — 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

Don't,  Dickon!  don't  reveal  the  truth;  not  dis 
grace  now ! 

DICKON 

Good  ;  we  are  agreed,  then  ? 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

I  have  no  choice. 

DICKON 
{Cheerfully. ~\ 
Why,  true ;  we  ignored  that,  didn't  we  ? 

MISTRESS  MERTON 

{Approaching.'} 
This  young  lord  —     Why,  Gilead,  are  you  ill  ? 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

[  With  a  great  effort,  commands  himself ^\ 
Not  in  the  least. 

MISTRESS   MERTON 

Rachel's  deportment,  my  dear  brother  — 


THE  SCARECROW  69 

RACHEL 

I  am  really  at  a  loss.  Your  lordship's  hand  is  so 
very  peculiar. 

RAVENSBANE 

Ah !     Peculiar. 

RACHEL 

This,  now,  is  the  line  of  life. 

RAVENSBANE 

Of  life,  yes  ? 

RACHEL 

But  it  begins  so  abruptly,  and  see!  it  breaks  off 
and  ends  nowhere.  And  just  so  here  with  this  line 
—  the  line  of  —  of  love. 

RAVENSBANE 

Of  love.     So ;  it  breaks  ? 

RACHEL 

Yes. 

RAVENSBANE 

Ah,  then,  that  must  be  the  heart  line. 

RACHEL 

I  am  afraid  your  lordship  is  very  fickle. 

MISTRESS   MERTON 

\_fforrified.~\ 
I  tell  you,  Gilead,  they  are  fortune-telling ! 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Tush  !     Tush ! 


7<D  THE  SCARECROW 

MISTRESS  MERTON 
Tush  ?     "  Tush  "  to  me  ?     Tush  ! 

\Richard,  who  has  been  stifling  his  feelings  at  Rachel's  re 
buff,  and  has  stood  fidgeting  at  a  civil  distance  from 
her,  now  walks  up  to  Justice  Merton^\ 

RICHARD 

Intolerable!     Do  you  approve  of   this,  sir?     Are 
Lord  Ravensbane's  credentials  satisfactory  ? 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Eminently,  eminently. 

RICHARD 

Ah  !     So  her  ladyship's  letter  is  — 

JUSTICE  MERTON 
Charming;  charming. 

RICHARD 

To  be  sure ;    old  friends,  when  they  are  lords,  it 
makes  such  a  difference. 

DICKON 

True  friends  —  old  friends  ; 
New  friends  —  cold  friends. 

N'est  ce  pas,  your  worship  ? 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Indeed,  Master  Dickonson  ;  indeed  ! 


THE  SCARECROW  71 

\To   Richard,   as   Dickon  goes   toward  Ravensbane    and 
Rachel.'] 

What   happiness  to  encounter  the  manners   of   the 
nobility ! 

RICHARD 

If  you  approve  them,  sir,  it  is  sufficient.     This  is 

your  house. 

[He  turns  away.~\ 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Your  lordship  will,  I  trust,  make  my  house  your 
home. 

RAVENSBANE 

My  home,  sir. 

RACHEL 
\To  Dickon,  who  has  spoken  to  her.'] 

Really  ? 

\To  Justice  Merton.'] 

Why,  uncle,  what  is  this  Master  Dickonson  tells 
us? 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

What !     What !  he  has  revealed  — 

RACHEL 

Yes,  indeed.     Why  did  you  never  tell  us  ? 

JUSTICE  MERTON 
Rachel !     Rachel ! 

MISTRESS  MERTON 
You  are  moved,  brother. 


72  THE  SCARECROW 

RACHEL 

[Laughingly  to  Ravensbane.~\ 

My  uncle  is  doubtless  astonished  to  find  you  so 
grown. 

RAVENSBANE 

[Laughingly  to  Justice  Merton.~\ 
I  am  doubtless  astonished,  sir,  to  be  so  grown. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

[To  Dickon.} 
You  have  — 

DICKON 

Remarked,    sir,    that     your    worship    had    often 
dandled  his  lordship  —  as  an  infant. 

JUSTICE   MERTON 
[Smiling  htgubriously.^ 
Quite  so  —  as  an  infant  merely. 

RACHEL 

How  interesting !     Then  you  must  have  seen  his 
lordship's  home  in  England. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 
As  you  say. 

RACHEL 
[To  Ravensbane.~\ 

Do  describe  it  to  us.     We  are   so   isolated   here 
from   the   grand   world.     Do   you   know,    I   always 


THE  SCARECROW  73 

imagine  England  to  be  an  enchanted  isle,  like  one  of 
the  old  Hesperides,  teeming  with  fruits  of  solid  gold. 

RAVENSBANE 

Ah,  yes !  my  mother  raises  them. 

RACHEL 

Fruits  of  gold  ? 

RAVENSBANE 

Round  like  the  rising  sun.     She  calls  them  —  ah ! 

punkins. 

MISTRESS   MERTON 

"  Punkins ! " 

JUSTICE  MERTON 
[Aside,  grinding  his  teeth.} 
Scoundrel !     Scoundrel ! 

RACHEL 

[Laughing.} 

Your  lordship  pokes  fun  at  us. 

DICKON 

His  lordship  is  an  artist  in  words,  mistress.  I 
have  noticed  that  in  whatever  country  he  is  travel 
ling,  he  tinges  his  vocabulary  with  the  local  idiom. 
His  lordship  means,  of  course,  not  pumpkins,  but 
pomegranates. 

RACHEL 

We  forgive  him.  But,  your  lordship,  please  be 
serious  and  describe  to  us  your  hall. 


74  THE  SCARECROW 

RAVENSBANE 

Quite  serious:  the  hall.     Yes,  yes;  in  the  middle 
burns  a  great  fire  —  on  a  black  —  ah  !  —  black  altar. 

DICKON 

A  Druidical  heirloom.     His  lordship's  mother  col 
lects  antiques. 

RACHEL 

How  fascinating ! 

RAVENSBANE 

Quite  fascinating !      On  the  walls  hang  pieces  of 
iron. 

DICKON 
Trophies  of  Saxon  warfare. 

RAVENSBANE 

And  rusty  horseshoes. 

GENERAL  MURMURS 

Horseshoes ! 

DICKON 

Presents  from  the  German  emperor.     They  were 
worn  by  the  steeds  of  Charlemagne. 

RAVENSBANE 

Quite  so ;  and  broken  cart-wheels. 

DICKON 
Reliques  of  British  chariots. 


THE  SCARECROW  75 

RACHEL 

How  mediaeval  it  must  be  ! 

[  To  Justice  MertonJ] 
And  to  think  you  never  described  it  to  us ! 

MISTRESS   MERTON 

True,  brother ;  you  have  been  singularly  reticent. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Permit  me ;  it  is  impossible  to  report  all  one  sees 
on  one's  travels. 

MISTRESS  MERTON 
Evidently. 

RACHEL 

But  surely  your  lordship's  mother  has  other  diver 
sions  besides  collecting  antiques.  I  have  heard  that 
in  England  ladies  followed  the  hounds ;  and  some 
times  — 

[Looking  at  her  aunt  and  lowering  her  voice. ,] 

they  even  dance. 

RAVENSBANE 

Dance  —  ah,  yes ;  my  lady  mother  dances  about 
the  —  the  altar ;  she  swings  high  a  hammer. 

DICKON 

Your  lordship,  your  lordship!  Pray,  sir,  check 
this  vein  of  poetry.  Lord  Ravensbane  symbolizes  as 
a  hammer  and  altar  a  golf -stick  and  tee  —  a  Scottish 


76  THE   SCARECROW 

game,  which  her   ladyship   plays  on    her    Highland 
estates. 

RICHARD 

[ To  Mistress  Merton.] 
What  do  you  think  of  this  ? 

MISTRESS  MERTON 

[  With  a  scandalized  look  toward  her  brother^ 
He  said  to  me  "  tush." 

RICHARD 

\_To  Justice  Merton,  indicating  Dickon.~] 
Who  is  this  magpie  ? 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

[Hisses  in  fury. ,] 
Satan ! 

RICHARD 

I  beg  pardon ! 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Satan,  sir — makes  you  jealous. 

RICHARD 

\Bows  stiffly. ~\ 
Good  morning. 

[  Walking  tip  to  Ravensbane.~\ 

Lord  Ravensbane,  I  have  a  rustic  colonial  question 
to  ask.     Is  it  the  latest  fashion  to  smoke  incessantly 

in  ladies'  parlours,  or  is  it  —  mediaeval  ? 

I  ^ 


THE   SCARECROW  77 

DICKON 

His  lordship's  health,  sir,  necessitates  — 

RICHARD 

I  addressed  his  lordship. 

RAVENSBANE 

In  the  matter  of  fashions,  sir  — 

[Hands  his  pipe  to  be  refilled.^ 
My  pipe,  Dickon! 

[  While  Dickon  holds  his  pipe  —  somewhat  longer  than  usual 
—  Ravensbane,  with  his  mouth  open  as  if  about  to  speak, 
relapses  into  a  vacant  stare.~\ 

DICKON 

\_As  he  lights  the  pipe  for  Ravensbane,  speaks  suavely  and 
low  as  if  not  to  be  overheard  by  him.~\ 

Pardon  me.  The  fact  is,  my  young  pupil  is  sensi 
tive;  the  wound  from  his  latest  duel  is  not  quite 
healed ;  you  observe  a  slight  lameness,  an  occasional 
absence  of  mind. 

RACHEL 

A  wound  —  in  a  real  duel  ? 

RICHARD 

Necessitates  his  smoking !     A  valid  reason  ! 

DICKON 
[Aside.] 

You,  mistress,  know  the  true  reason  — his  lordship's 
heart. 


78  THE  SCARECROW 

RACHEL 

Believe  me,  sir  — 

RICHARD 

[To  Ravensbane,  who  is  still  staring  vacantly  into  space. ~\ 
Well,  well,  your  lordship. 

[Ravensbane  pays  no  attention.] 
You  were  saying  —  ? 

[Dickon  returns  the  pipe.  ~\ 
in  the  matter  of  fashions,  sir—? 

RAVENSBANE 
[Regaining  slowly  a  look  of  intelligence,  draws  himself  up 

with  affronted  hauteur.'} 
Permit  me ! 

[Puffs  several  wreaths  of  smoke  into  the  air.~\ 

I  am  the  fashions. 

RICHARD 

[  Going.~\ 
Insufferable  ! 

[He  pauses  at  the  door.~\ 

MISTRESS  MERTON 
[To  Justice  MertonJ] 
Well  —  what  do  you  think  of  that? 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

Spoken  like  King  Charles  himself. 

MISTRESS   MERTON 

Brother  !  brother  !  is  there  nothing  wrong  here  ? 


THE  SCARECROW  79 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Wrong,     Cynthia!      Manifestly     you     are    quite 
ignorant  of  the  manners  of  the  great. 

MISTRESS  MERTON 
Oh,  Gilead ! 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Where  are  you  going  ? 

MISTRESS  MERTON 
To  my  room. 

\_Murmurs,  as  she  hurries  out.'] 
Dear !  dear  !  if  it  should  be  that  again  ! 

[Dickon   and  Justice  Merton  withdraw  to  a  corner  of  the 

room.'} 

RACHEL 

\To  Ravensbane.~\ 
I  —  object   to   the   smoke?     Why,    I   think   it   is 

charming. 

RICHARD 

[  Who   has  returned  from  the  door,  speaks   in  a  low,  con 
strained  voice, ,] 
Rachel ! 

RACHEL 

Oh !  —  you  ? 

RICHARD 

You  take  quickly  to  European  fashions. 

RACHEL 

Yes  ?     To  what  one  in  particular  ? 


80  THE  SCARECROW 

RICHARD 

Two ;  smoking  and  flirtation. 

RACHEL 

Jealous  ? 

RICHARD 

Of  an  idiot  ?  I  hope  not.  Manners  differ,  how 
ever.  Your  confidences  to  his  lordship  have  evi 
dently  not  included  —  your  relation  to  me. 

RACHEL 
Oh,  our  relations ! 

RICHARD 

Of  course,  since  you  wish  him  to  continue  in  igno 
rance  — 

RACHEL 

Not  at  all.  He  shall  know  at  once.  Lord  Ravens- 
bane  ! 

RAVENSBANE 

Fair  mistress ! 

RICHARD 

Rachel,  stop  !     I  did  not  mean  — 

RACHEL 
\To  Ravensbane^\ 

My  uncle  did  not  introduce  to  you  with  sufficient 
elaboration  this  gentleman.  Will  you  allow  me  to  do 
so  now  ? 

RAVENSBANE 

I  adore  Mistress  Rachel's  elaborations. 


THE  SCARECROW  8  1 

RACHEL 

Lord  Ravensbane,  I  beg  to  present  Squire  Talbot, 
my  betrothed. 

RAVENSBANE 

Betrothed!     Is  it  — 

{Noticing  Richard  's  frown.~\ 
is  it  pleasant  ? 

RACHEL 
[To  Richard.} 
Are  you  satisfied  ? 

RICHARD 

[Trembling  with  feeling.~\ 
More  than  satisfied. 


RAVENSBANE 
[Looking  after  him.~\ 
Ah  !     Betrothed  is  not  pleasant. 

RACHEL 

Not  always. 

RAVENSBANE 
[Anxiously.'] 
Mistress  Rachel  is  not  pleased  ? 

RACHEL 

[Biting  her  lip,  looks  after  Richard^ 
With  him. 


82  THE   SCARECROW 

RAVENSBANE 

Mistress  Rachel  will  smile  again  ? 

RACHEL 

Soon. 

RAVENSBANE 

[Ardent.'} 

Ah !  if  she  would  only  smile  once  more !  What 
can  Lord  Ravensbane  do  to  make  her  smile  ?  See  ! 
will  you  puff  my  pipe  ?  It  is  very  pleasant. 

[Offering  the  pipe. ~\ 

RACHEL 

[Smiling.'] 
Shall  I  try? 

[Takes  hold  of  it  mischievously. ,] 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

[In  a  great  voice.~\ 
Rachel ! 

RACHEL 

Why,  uncle ! 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

[From  where  he  has  been  conversing  in  a  corner  with  Dickon, 
approaches  now  and  speaks  suavely  to  Ravensbane^\ 

Permit  me,  your  lordship  —  Rachel,  you  will  kindly 
withdraw  for  a  few  moments ;  I  desire  to  confer  with 
Lord  Ravensbane  concerning  his  mother's — her  lady 
ship's  letter ; 


THE  SCARECROW  83 

[Obsequiously  to  Dickon, ,] 

—  that  is,  if  you  think,  sir,  that  your  noble  pupil  is 
not  too  fatigued. 

DICKON 

Not  at  all ;  I  think  his  lordship  will  listen  to  you 
with  much  pleasure. 

RAVENSBANE 

{Bowing  to  Justice  Merton,  but  looking  at  Rachel.'] 
With  much  pleasure. 

DICKON 

And  in  the  meantime,  if  Mistress  Rachel  will  allow 
me,  I  will  assist  her  in  writing  those  invitations  which 
your  worship  desires  to  send  in  her  name. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Invitations  —  from  my  niece  ? 

DICKON 

To  his  Excellency,  the  Lieutenant  Governor;  to 
your  friends,  the  Reverend  Masters  at  Harvard  Col 
lege,  etc.,  etc. ;  in  brief,  to  all  your  worship's  select 
social  acquaintance  in  the  vicinity  —  to  meet  his 
lordship.  It  was  so  thoughtful  in  you  to  suggest  it, 
sir,  and  believe  me,  his  lordship  appreciates  your 
courtesy  in  arranging  the  reception  in  his  honour  for 
this  afternoon. 

RACHEL 

[To  Justice  Merton.'] 

This  afternoon !  Are  we  really  to  give  his  lord 
ship  a  reception  this  afternoon  ? 


84  THE   SCARECROW 

DICKON 

Your  uncle  has  already  given  me  the  list  of 
guests ;  so  considerate  !  Permit  me  to  act  as  your 
scribe,  Mistress  Rachel. 

RACHEL 

With  pleasure. 

{To  Justice  Merton.'} 
And  will  it  be  here,  uncle  ? 

DICKON 

[Looking  at  him  narrowfy.~\ 
Your  worship  said  here,  I  believe  ? 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Quite  so,  sir ;  quite  so,  quite  so. 

DICKON 
[Aside  to  Justice  Merton.~\ 

I  advise  nothing  rash,  Gilly ;  the  brat  has  a  weak 
heart. 

RACHEL 

This  way,  Master  Dickonson,  to  the  study. 

DICKON 

[As  he  goes  with  Rachel.~\ 
I  will  write  and  you  sign  ? 

RACHEL 
Thank  you. 


THE  SCARECROW  85 

DICKON 

[Aside,  as  he  passes  Ravensbane.~\ 
Remember,  Jack !     Puff,  puff ! 

RACHEL 

[To  Ravensbane,  who  stretches  out  his  hand  to  her  with  a 
gesture  of  entreaty  to  stay.} 

Your  lordship  is  to  be  my  guest. 

\Courtesying} 
Till  we  meet  again! 

DICKON 
[To  Rachel.} 

May  I  sharpen  your  quill  ? 
\Exeunt.~\ 

RAVENSBANE 
[Faintly,  looking  after  her.~\ 
Till  —  we  —  meet  —  again ! 

JUSTICE   MERTON 
\_Low  and  vehement  to  Ravensbane."\ 
Impostor ! 

RAVENSBANE 
[Still  staring  at  the  door} 
She  is  gone. 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

You  at  least  shall  not  play  the  lord  and  master  to 
my  face. 


86  THE  SCARECROW 

RAVENSBANE 

Quite  —  gone ! 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

I  know  with  whom  I  have  to  deal.  If  I  be  any 
judge  of  my  own  flesh  and  blood  —  permit  me  —  you 
shall  quail  before  me. 

RAVENSBANE 
[Dejectedly.'] 
She  did  not  smile  — 

\_Joyously.~\ 
She  smiled ! 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Affected  rogue !  I  know  thee.  I  know  thy  feigned 
pauses,  thy  assumed  vagaries.  Speak ;  how  much  do 
you  want  ? 

RAVENSBANE 

Betrothed,  —  he  went  away.  That  was  good. 
And  then  —  she  did  not  smile:  that  was  not  good. 
But  then  —  she  smiled  !  Ah  !  that  was  good. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Come  back,  coward,  and  face  me. 

RAVENSBANE 

First,  the  great  sun  shone  over  the  corn-fields,  the 
grass  was  green  ;  the  black  wings  rose  and  flew 
before  me  ;  then  the  door  opened  —  and  she  looked 

at  me. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Speak,  I  say  !  What  sum  ?  What  treasure  do  you 
hope  to  bleed  from  me  ? 


THE  SCARECROW  87 

RAVENSBANE 

[Ecstatically.'} 
Ah!    Mistress  Rachel! 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Her !  Scoundrel,  if  thou  dost  name  her  again,  my 
innocent  —  my  sweet  maid  !  If  thou  dost  —  thou 
godless  spawn  of  temptation  —  mark  you,  I  will  put 
an  end  — 

\_Reachingfor  a  pistol  that  rests  in  a  rack  on  the  wall,  —  the 
intervening  form  of  Dickon  suddenly  appears,  pockets 
the  pistol,  and  exit '.] 

DICKON 
I  beg  pardon ;  I  forgot  something. 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

\_Sinking  into  a  chair.~\ 
God  is  just. 

[He  holds  his  head  in  his  hands  and  weeps. ~\ 

RAVENSBANE 

[For  the  first  time,  since  Rachel's  departure,  observes  MertonJ] 
Permit  me,  sir,  are  you  ill  ? 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

\_Recoiling.~] 
What  art  thou  ? 

RAVENSBANE 
[  Monotonou  sly.  ] 

I  am  Lord  Ravensbane:  Marquis  of  Oxford,  Baron 
of  Wittenberg,  Elector  of  Worms,  and  — 


88  THE  SCARECROW 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

And  my  son  ! 

\_Covers  his  face  again  J\ 

RAVENSBANE 
[Solicitously '.] 
Shall  I  call  Dickon  ? 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Yea,  for  thou  art  my  son.  The  deed  once  done  is 
never  done,  the  past  is  the  present. 

RAVENSBANE 

[  Walking  s  of  fly  toward  the  door,  calls. ~\ 
Dickon ! 

JUSTICE  MERTON 
[Starting  up.~\ 

No,  do  not  call  him.  Stay,  and  be  merciful.  Tell 
me  :  I  hate  thee  not ;  thou  wast  innocent.  Tell  me ! 
—  I  thought  thou  hadst  died  as  a  babe.  — Where  has 
Dickon,  our  tyrant,  kept  thee  these  twenty  years  ? 

RAVENSBANE 
[With  gentle  courtesy. ,] 
Master  Dickonson  is  my  tutor. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

And  why  has  thy  mother  —  Ah,  I  know  well ;  I 
deserve  all.  But  yet,  it  must  not  be  published  now ! 
I  am  a  justice  now,  an  honoured  citizen  —  and  my 


THE   SCARECROW  89 

young  niece —  Thy  mother  will  not  demand  so 
much;  she  will  be  considerate;  she  will  ask  some 
gold,  of  course,  but  she  will  show  pity ! 

RAVENSBANE 

My  mother  is  the  Marchioness  of  Rickby. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Yes,  yes  ;  'twas  well  planned,  a  clever  trick.  'Twas 
skilful  of  her.  But  surely  thy  mother  gave  thee 
commands  to  — 

RAVENSBANE 

My  mother  gave  me  her  blessing. 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

Ah,  ''tis  well  then.  Young  man,  my  son,  I  too  will 
give  thee  my  blessing,  if  thou  wilt  but  go  —  go  in 
stantly  —  go  with  half  my  fortune,  go  away  forever, 
and  leave  my  reputation  unstained. 

RAVENSBANE 
Go  away? 

\Startingfor  the  study  door.~\ 

Ah,  sir,  with  much  pleasure. 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

You  will  go  ?  You  will  leave  me  my  honour — and 
my  Rachel  ? 

RAVENSBANE 

Rachel  ?  Rachel  is  yours  ?  No,  no,  Mistress  Ra 
chel  is  mine.  We  are  ours. 


QO  THE   SCARECROW 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

[Pleadingly. ~\ 
Consider  the  disgrace. 

RAVENSBANE 

No,  no ;  I   have  seen  her  eyes,  they  are  mine ;  I 
have  seen  her  smiles,  they  are  mine  ;  she  is  mine ! 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

Consider,  one  moment  consider  —  you,  an  illegiti 
mate  —  and  she  —  oh,  think  what  thou  art ! 

RAVENSBANE 
[Monotonously,  puffing  smoke  at  the  end.'} 

I  am  Lord  Ravensbane  :  Marquis  of  Oxford,  Baron 
of  Wittenberg,  Elector  of  Worms,  and  Count  — 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

{Wrenching  the  pipe  from  Ravensbane' s  hand  and  lips. ~\ 
Devil's  child  !     Boor  !     Buffoon  ! 

[Flinging  the  pipe  away.~\ 

I  will  stand  thy  insults  no  longer.     If  thou  hast  no 
heart  — 

RAVENSBANE 

[Putting  his  hand  to  his  side,  staggers^ 
Ah !  my  heart ! 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Hypocrite !     Thou  canst  not  fool  me.     I  am  thy 

father. 


THE  SCARECROW  91 

RAVENSBANE 
[Faintly,  stretching  out  his  hand  to  him  for  support.  ~\ 

Father ! 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

Stand  away.  Thou  mayst  break  thy  heart  and 
mine  and  the  devil's,  but  thou  shalt  not  break 
Rachel's. 

RAVENSBANE 

[Fainttyl\ 

Mistress  Rachel  is  mine  — 
[He  staggers  again,  and  falls,  half  reclining,  upon  a  chair •.] 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

Good  God !     Can  it  be  —  his  heart  ? 

RAVENSBANE 

[More  faintly,  beginning  to  change  expression.'} 
Her  eyes  are  mine;  her  smiles  are  mine. 
[His  eyes  closeJ] 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

[  With  agitated  swiftness,  feels  and  listens  at  Ravensbane's 

side.'] 

Not  a  motion ;  not  a  sound  !  Yea,  God,  Thou  art 
good!  'Tis  his  heart.  He  is— ah!  he  is  my  son. 
Judge  Almighty,  if  he  should  die  now ;  may  I  not  be 
still  a  moment  more  and  make  sure.  No,  no,  my  son 
—  he  is  changing. 


92  THE  SCARECROW 

[Calls.} 

Help!    Help!    Rachel!    Master  Dickonson !    Help! 
Richard!     Cynthia!     Come  hither! 

[Enter  Dickon  and  Rachel.'} 

RACHEL 
Uncle ! 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Bring  wine.     Lord  Ravensbane  has  fainted. 

RACHEL 
Oh! 

[Turning  swiftly  to go.~] 
Micah,  wine. 

DICKON 

[Detaining  her."] 

Stay  !     His  pipe  !     Where  is  his  lordship's  pipe  ? 

RACHEL 
Oh,  terrible ! 

[Enter,  at  different  doors,  Mistress  Merton  and  Richard} 
MISTRESS   MERTON 

What's  the  matter  ? 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

[To  Rachel.'} 
He  threw  it  away.     He  is  worse.     Bring  the  wine. 

MISTRESS   MERTON 

Look !    How  strange  he  appears ! 


THE  SCARECROW  93 

RACHEL 
[Searching  distractedly^ 

The  pipe !     His  lordship's  pipe !    It  is  lost,  Master 
Dickonson. 

DICKON 

[Stooping,   as  if  searching,  with  his  back  turned,  having 
picked  up  the  pipe,  is  filling  and  lighting  it.'] 

It   must   be   found.     This   is   a  heart  attack,  my 
friends ;  his  lordship's  life  depends  on  the  nicotine. 
[Deftly  he  places  the  pipe  in  Rachel's  way.'] 

RACHEL 
Thank  God !     Here  it  is. 

[Carrying  it  to  the  prostrate  form  of  Ravensbane,  she  lifts 
his  head  and  is  about  to  put  the  pipe  in  his  mouth.~\ 

Shall  I— shall  I  put  it  in  ? 

RICHARD 
No !  not  you. 

RACHEL 

Sir! 

RICHARD 

Let  his  tutor  perform  that  office. 

RACHEL 

[Lifting  Lord  RavensbanJs  head  again.'] 
Here,  my  lord. 


94  THE  SCARECROW 

RICHARD  AND  JUSTICE   MERTON 

[Together. ~\ 
Rachel! 

RACHEL 

You,  too,  uncle  ? 

DICKON 

Pardon  me,  Mistress  Rachel;  give  the  pipe  at 
once.  Only  a  token  of  true  affection  can  revive  his 
lordship  now. 

RICHARD 

[As  Rachel  puts  the  pipe  to  Ravensbane 's  lips.] 
I  forbid  it,  Rachel. 

RACHEL 

[  Watching  only  Ravensbane.'} 
My  lord  —  my  lord ! 

MISTRESS   MERTON 
Give  him  air ;  unbutton  his  coat. 

[Rachel  unbuttons   Ravensbane's   coat,    revealing  the    em 
broidered  waistcoat.~\ 

Ah,  heavens  !     What  do  I  see  ? 

JUSTICE  MERTON 
[Looks,  blanches,  and  signs  silence  to  Mistress  Merton] 

Cynthia ! 

DICKON 

See  !     He  puffs  —  he   revives.     He  is  coming  to 
himself. 


THE  SCARECROW  95 

MISTRESS   MERTON 
[Aside  to  Justice  Merton,  with  deep  tensity '.] 

That   waistcoat!    that   waistcoat!      Brother,   hast 
thou  never  seen  it  before  ? 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

Never,  my  sister. 

RACHEL 

\_As  Ravensbane  rises  to  his  feet.~\ 
At  last ! 

DICKON 

Look !  he  is  restored. 

RACHEL 

God  be  thanked ! 

DICKON 

My  lord,  Mistress  Rachel  has  saved  your  life. 

RAVENSBANE 
{Taking  Rachel's  hand.~] 
Mistress  Rachel  is  mine ;  we  are  ours. 

RICHARD 

Dare  to  repeat  that. 

RAVENSBANE 
[Looking  at  RacheL~\ 
Her  eyes  are  mine. 

RICHARD 

[Flinging  his  glove  in  his  face.~] 
And   that,   sir,  is    yours.     I   believe   such   is   the 


96  THE   SCARECROW 

proper  fashion  in  England.  If  your  lordship's  last 
duelling  wound  is  sufficiently  healed,  perhaps  you 
will  deign  a  reply. 

RACHEL 

Richard  !     Your  lordship  ! 

RAVENSBANE 
[Stoops,  picks  up  the  glove,  pockets  it,  bows  to  Rachel,  and 

steps  close  to  Richard.~\ 
Permit  me ! 

[He  blows  a  puff  of  smoke  full  in  Richards  face.] 


ACT    III 


ACT    III 

The  same  day.     Late  afternoon.     The  same  scene  as  Act  II. 

RAVENSBANE  and  DICKON  discovered  at  table,  on  which  are 
lying  two  flails.  Ravensbane  is  dressed  in  a  costume 
which,  composed  of  silk  and  jewels,  sub  fly  approximates 
in  design  to  that  of  his  original  grosser  composition. 
So  artfully,  however,  is  this  contrived  that,  to  one  igno 
rant  of  his  origin,  his  dress  would  appear  to  be  merely 
an  odd  personal  whimsy ;  whereas,  to  one  initiated,  it 
would  stamp  him  grotesquely  as  the  apotheosis  'of 
scarecrows. 

Dickon  is  sitting  in  a  pedagogical  attitude;  Ravensbane 
stands  near  him,  making  a  profound  bow  in  the  opposite 
direction. 

RAVENSBANE 

Believe  me,  ladies,  with  the  true  sincerity  of  the 
heart. 

DICKON 

Inflection  a  little  more  lachrymose,  please :  "  The 
true  sincerity  of  the  heart" 

RAVENSBANE 

Believe  me,  ladies,  with  the   true  sincerity  of  the 
heart. 

DICKON* 

Prettily,  prettily !     Next ! 
99 


IOO  THE  SCARECROW 

RAVENSBANE 
[Changing  his  mien,  as  if  addressing  another  person.'] 

Verily,  sir,  as  that  prince  of  poets,  the  immortal 
Virgil,  has  remarked : 

"  Adeo  in  teneris  consuescere  multum  est." 

DICKON 

Hm  !     Act  up  to  the  sentiment. 

RAVENSBANE 

Verily,  sir.  as  that  prince  — 

DICKON 

No,  no ;  basta  !    The  next. 

RAVENSBANE 
[  With  another  change  to  courtly  manner ^\ 

Trust   me,   your    Excellency,    I   will    inform    his 
Majesty  of  your  courtesy. 

DICKON 

His  Majesty  more  emphatic.     Remember!     You 
must  impress  all  of  the  guests  this  afternoon. 

RAVENSBANE 

His  Majesty  of  your  courtesy. 

DICKON 

Delicious  !     O  thou  exquisite  flower  of  love !    How 
thy  natal  composites  have  burst  in  bloom  :  The  pump- 


THE  SCARECROW  IOI 

kin  in  thee  to  a  golden  collarette ;  thy  mop  of  crow's 
wings  to  these  raven  locks ;  thy  broomstick  to  a 
lordly  limp;  thy  corn-silk  to  these  pale-tinted  tassels. 
Verily  in  the  gallery  of  scarecrows,  thou  art  the 
Apollo  Belvedere!  But  continue,  Cobby  dear:  the 
retort  now  to  the  challenge. 


RAVENSBANE 
[  With  a  superb  air.l 
The  second,  I  believe. 

DICKON 
Quite  so,  my  lord. 


RAVENSBANE 

Sir!  The  local  person  whom  you  represent  has 
done  himself  the  honour  of  submitting  to  me  a  chal 
lenge  to  mortal  combat.  Sir!  Since  the  remotest 
times  of  my  feudal  ancestors,  in  such  affairs  of 
honour,  choice  of  weapons  has  ever  been  the  prerog 
ative  of  the  challenged.  Sir !  This  right  of  etiquette 
must  be  observed.  Nevertheless,  believe  me,  I  have 
no  selfish  desire  that  my  superior  attainments  in  this 
art  should  assume  advantage  over  my  challenger's 
ignorance.  I  have,  therefore,  chosen  those  combative 
utensils  most  appropriate  both  to  his  own  humble 
origin  and  to  local  tradition.  Permit  me,  sir,  to 
reveal  my  choice. 

[Pointing  grandly  to  the  table.~\ 
There  are  my  weapons ! 


102  THE  SCARECROW 

DICKON 

[  Clapping  his  hands. ,] 

My   darling   homunculus !      Thou    shouldst    have 
acted  in  Beaumont  and  Fletcher ! 


RAVENSBANE 

\>A  «fc  \          \  cl  "  I  ^  ; 
There  are  mv  we 


my  weapons ! 


DICKON 

I  could  watch  thy  histrionics  till  midnight.  But 
thou  art  tired,  poor  Jacky  ;  two  hours'  rehearsal  is 
fatiguing  to  your  lordship. 

RAVENSBANE 

Mistress  Rachel  —  I  may  see  her  now  ? 

DICKON 

Romeo!  Romeo!  Was  ever  such  an  amorous 
puppet  show! 

RAVENSBANE 

Mistress  Rachel ! 

DICKON 

Wait;  let  me  think!  Thou  art  wound  up  now, 
my  pretty  apparatus,  for  at  least  six  and  thirty  hours. 
The  wooden  angel  Gabriel  that  trumpets  the  hours 
on  the  big  clock  in  Venice  is  not  a  more  punctual 
manikin  than  thou  with  my  speeches.  Thou  shouldst 
run,  therefore,  — 


THE  SCARECROW  IO3 

RAVENSBANE 

[Frowning  darkly  at  Dickon.^ 

Stop  talking ;   permit  me !     A  tutor  should  know 
his  place. 

DICKON 

[Rubbing  his  hands.~\ 
Nay,  your  lordship  is  beyond  comparison. 

RAVENSBANE 
[In  a  terrible  voice.~\ 
She  will  come  ?     I  shall  see  her  ? 
[Enter  MICAH.] 

MICAH 
Pardon,  my  lord. 

RAVENSBANE 

[Turning joyfully  to  Micah.~\ 
Is  it  she  ? 

MICAH 

Captain  Bugby,  my  lord,  the  Governor's  secretary. 

DICKON 
Good.     Squire  Talbot's  second.     Show  him  in. 

RAVENSBANE 

[Flinging  despairingly  into  a  chair •.] 
Ah!  ah! 


104  THE   SCARECROW 

MICAH 

[Lifting  the  flails  from  the  table. ~\ 
Beg  pardon,  sir ;  shall  I  remove  — 

DICKON 
Drop  them;  go. 

MICAH 

But,  sir  — 

DICKON 

Go,  thou  slave ! 

[Exit  Micah.'] 

RAVENSBANE 
\_In  childlike  despair. ,] 
She  will  not  come !     I  shall  not  see  her ! 

DICKON 

[Handing  him  a  book.~\ 
Here,  my  lord ;  read.     You  must  be  found  reading. 

RAVENSBANE 

[flinging  the  book  into  the  fireplace '.] 
She  does  not  come ! 

DICKON 

Fie,  fie,  Jack;  thou  must  not  be  breaking  thy 
Dickon's  apron-strings  with  a  will  of  thine  own. 
Come ! 

RAVENSBANE 

Mistress  Rachel. 


THE  SCARECROW  105 

DICKON 

Be  good,  boy,  and  thou  shalt  see  her  soon. 

RAVENSBANE 

[Brightening.'] 

I  shall  see  her  ? 

\_Enter  CAPTAIN  BUGBY.] 

DICKON 
Your  lordship  was  saying  —  Oh !  Captain  Bugby  ? 

CAPTAIN  BUGBY 
\_Nervous  and  awedJ] 

Captain    Bugby,   sir,  ah !    at   Lord    Ravensbane's 
service  —  ah ! 

DICKON 
I  am  Master  Dickonson,  his  lordship's  tutor. 

CAPTAIN   BUGBY 
Happy,  sir. 

DICKON 

\_To  Ravensbane.~\ 

My    lord,    this    gentleman    waits   upon   you   from 
Squire  Talbot. 

\_To  Captain  Bugby. ~\ 

In   regard   to   the   challenge   of   this   morning,  I 
presume  ? 

CAPTAIN   BUGBY 
The  affair,  ah !  the  affair  of  this  morning,  sir. 


IO6  THE  SCARECROW 

RAVENSBANE 

[With  his  former  superb  air — to  Captain  Bugby^\ 
The  second,  I  believe  ? 

CAPTAIN  BUGBY 
Quite  so,  my  lord. 

RAVENSBANE 

Sir !  the  local  person  whom  you  represent  has  done 
himself  the  honour  of  submitting  to  me  a  challenge 
to  mortal  combat.  Sir !  Since  the  remotest  times  of 
my  feudal  ancestors,  in  such  affairs  of  honour,  choice 
of  weapons  has  ever  been  the  prerogative  of  the 
challenged.  Sir!  this  right  of  etiquette  must  be 
observed. 

CAPTAIN  BUGBY 

Indeed,  yes,  my  lord. 

DICKON 
Pray  do  not  interrupt. 

\To  Ravensbane.~\ 
Your  lordship :  "observed." 

RAVENSBANE 

—  observed.  Nevertheless,  believe  me,  I  have  no 
selfish  desire  that  my  superior  attainments  vs\  this  art 
should  assume  advantage  over  my  challenger's  igno 
rance.  I  have,  therefore,  chosen  those  combative 
utensils  most  appropriate  both  to  his  own  humble 


THE  SCARECROW  107 

origin  and  to  local  tradition.    Permit  me,  sir,  to  reveal 
my  choice. 

[Pointing  to  the  table.~\ 

There  are  my  weapons  ! 

CAPTAIN   BUGBY 
\_Lookingy  bewildered^ 
These,  my  lord  ? 

RAVENSBANE 

Those. 

CAPTAIN  BUGBY 

But  these  are  —  are  flails. 

RAVENSBANE 

Flails. 

CAPTAIN  BUGBY 
Flails,  my  lord  ? 

RAVENSBANE 

There  are  my  weapons. 

CAPTAIN  BUGBY 

Lord  Ravensbane  —  I  —  ah  !  express  myself  ill  — 
Do  I  understand  that  your  lordship  and  Squire 
Talbot  — 

RAVENSBANE 

Exactly. 

CAPTAIN  BUGBY 
But  your  lordship  —  flails  ! 


108  THE   SCARECROV/ 

RAVENSBANE 

My  adversary  should  be  deft  in  their  use.     He  has 
doubtless  wielded  them  frequently  on  his  barn  floor. 

CAPTAIN  BUGBY 

Ahaha !     I  understand  now.     Your  lordship  —  ah ! 
is  a  wit.     Haha  !     Flails  ! 

DICKON 
His  lordship's  satire  is  poignant.       ' 

CAPTAIN  BUGBY 

Indeed,  sir,   so   keen   that   I  must   apologize  for 
laughing  at  my  principal's  expense. 

[Soberly  to  Ravensbane.~} 

My  lord,  if  you  will  deign  to  speak  one  moment 
seriously  — 

RAVENSBANE 

Seriously  ? 

CAPTAIN  BUGBY 

I  will  take  pleasure  in  informing  Squire  Talbot 
—  ah  !  as  to  your  real  preference  for  — 

RAVENSBANE 

For  flails,  sir.     I  have,  permit  me,  nothing  further 
to  say.     Flails  are  final. 

{Turns  away  haughtily. .] 

CAPTAIN  BUGBY 

Must   I    really   report  to  Squire  Talbot  — ah!  — 
flails  ? 


THE  SCARECROW  1 09 

DICKON 

Lord  Ravensbane's  will  is  inflexible. 

CAPTAIN  BUGBY 

And  his  wit,  sir,  incomparable.  I  am  sorry  for  the 
Squire,  but  'twill  be  the  greatest  joke  in  years.  Ah  ! 
will  you  tell  me  —  is  it  — 

[Indicating  Ravensbane's  smoking.~\ 
is  it  the  latest  fashion  ? 

DICKON 
Lord  Ravensbane  is  always  the  latest. 

CAPTAIN  BUGBY 

Obliged  servant,  sir.     Aha  !     Such  a  joke  as  —  O 

lord  !  flails ! 

[Exit.] 

DICKON 
\_Returning  to  Ravensbane.'} 

Bravo,  my  pumpky  dear  !  That  squelches  the  jeal 
ous  betrothed.  Now  nothing  remains  but  for  you  to 
continue  to  dazzle  the  enamoured  Rachel,  and  so  pre 
sent  yourself  to  the  Justice  as  a  pseudo-son-nephew-in- 
law. 

RAVENSBANE 

I  may  go  to  Mistress  Rachel  ? 

DICKON 

She  will  come  to  you.  She  is  reading  now  a  poem 
from  you,  which  I  left  on  her  dressing-table. 


IIO  THE  SCARECROW 

RAVENSBANE 

She  is  reading  a  poem  from  me  ? 

DICKON 

With  your  pardon,  my  lord,  I  penned  it  for  you. 
I  am  something  of  a  poetaster.  Indeed,  I  flatter  my 
self  that  I  have  dictated  some  of  the  finest  lines  in 
literature. 

RAVENSBANE 

Dickon !     She  will  come  ? 

DICKON 
She  comes ! 

\_Enter  RACHEL,  reading  from  a  piece  of  paper. ~\ 

Hush  !     Step  aside  ;  step  aside  first.     Let  her  read 

it. 

\_Dickon  draws  Ravensbane  backl\ 

RACHEL 
Once  more, 

[Reads.] 

"  To  Mistress  R ,  enchantress : 

If  faith  in  witchcraft  be  a  sin, 

Alas  !  what  peril  he  is  in 

Who  plights  his  faith  and  love  in  thee, 

Sweetest  maid  of  sorcery. 

If  witchcraft  be  a  whirling  brain, 

A  roving  eye,  a  heart  of  pain, 

Whose  wound  no  thread  of  fate  can  stitch, 

How  hast  thou  conjured,  cruel  witch, 


THE  SCARECROW  III 

With  the  brain,  eye,  heart,  and  total  mortal  residue 
of  thine  enamoured 

JACK  LANTHORNE, 

[LORDR ."] 

DICKON 

Now  to  leave  the  turtles  alone. 
\_Exit.-] 


RACHEL 

"  To  Mistress  R ,  enchantress  : 

If  faith  in  witchcraft  be  —  " 

"To  Mistress  R ."     R!     It  must  be.     R- 

must  mean  — 

RAVENSBANE 
[  With  passionate  deference.'] 


Rachel ! 

RACHEL 

Ah  !     How  you  surprised  me,  my  lord. 

RAVENSBANE 

You  are  come  again ;  you  are  come  again. 

RACHEL 

Has  anything  happened  ?     Tell  me,  my  lord.     Has 
Squire  Talbot  been  here  ? 

RAVENSBANE 

No,  Mistress  Rachel ;  not  here. 


112  THE   SCARECROW 

RACHEL 

And  you  have  not  — Oh,  my  lord,  I  have  been  in 
such  terror.  But  you  are  safe. —You  have  not 
fought  ? 

RAVENSBANE 

No,  Mistress  Rachel ;  not  fought. 

RACHEL 

Thank  God  for  that !  But  you  will  promise  me  — 
promise  me  that  there  shall  be  —  no  —  duel ! 

RAVENSBANE 

I  promise  Mistress  Rachel  there  shall  be  no  duel. 

RACHEL 

Your  lordship  is  so  good.  You  do  not  know  how 
gratefully  happy  I  am. 

RAVENSBANE 

I  know  I  am  only  a  thing  to  make  Mistress 
Rachel  happy.  Ah !  look  at  me  once  more.  When 
you  look  at  me,  I  live. 

RACHEL 

It  is  strange  indeed,  my  lord,  how  the  familiar 
world,  the  daylight,  the  heavens  themselves  have 
changed  since  your  arrival. 

RAVENSBANE 

This  is  the  world ;  this  is  the  light ;  this  is  the 
heavens  themselves.  Mistress  Rachel  is  looking  at 
me. 


THE  SCARECROW  113 

RACHEL 

For  me,  it  is  less  strange  perhaps.  I  never  saw  a 
real  lord  before.  But  you,  my  lord,  must  have  seen 
so  many,  many  girls  in  the  great  world. 

RAVENSBANE 

No,  no;  never. 

RACHEL 

No  other  girls  before  to-day,  my  lord ! 

RAVENSBANE 

Before  to-day  ?  I  do  not  know  ;  I  do  not  care.  I 
was  not  here.  To-day  I  was  born  —  in  your  eyes. 
Ah  !  my  brain  whirls  ! 

RACHEL 
\_Smiling."\ 

"  If  witchcraft  be  a  whirling  brain, 
A  roving  eye,  a  heart  of  pain,  —  " 

\_In  a  whisper. .] 
My  lord,  do  you  really  believe  in  witchcraft  ? 

RAVENSBANE 

With  all  my  heart. 

RACHEL 

And  approve  of  it  ? 

RAVENSBANE 

With  all  my  soul. 

RACHEL 

So  do  I  —  that  is,  innocent  witchcraft ;  not  to 
harm  anybody,  you  know,  but  just  to  feel  all  the 


114  THE  SCARECROW 

dark  mystery  and  the  trembling  excitement  —  the 
way  you  feel  when  you  blow  out  your  candle  all 
alone  in  your  bedroom  and  watch  the  little  smoke 
fade  away  in  the  moonshine. 

RAVENSBANE 

Fade  away  in  the  moonshine ! 

RACHEL 

Oh,  but  we  mustn't  speak  of  it.  In  a  town  like 
this,  all  such  mysticism  is  considered  damnable. 
But  your  lordship  understands  and  approves  ?  I  am 
so  glad  !  Have  you  read  the  "  Philosophical  Con 
siderations  "  of  Glanville,  the  "  Saducismus  Trium- 
phatus"  and  the  "  Presignifications  of  Dreams"? 
What  kind  of  witchcraft,  my  lord,  do  you  believe  in  ? 

RAVENSBANE 

In  all  yours. 

RACHEL 

Nay,  your  lordship  must  not  take  me  for  a  real 
witch.  I  can  only  tell  fortunes,  you  know  —  like 
this  morning. 

RAVENSBANE 

I  know  ;  you  told  how  my  heart  would  break. 

RACHEL 

Oh,  that's  palmistry,  and  that  isn't  always  certain. 
But  the  surest  way  to  prophesy  —  do  you  know 
what  it  is  ? 

RAVENSBANE 

Tell  me. 


UN'.VE 


THE  SCARECROW  115 

RACHEL 

To  count  the  crows.     Do  you  know  how  ? 
One  for  sorrow  — 

RAVENSBANE 

Ha,  yes  !  —  Two  for  mirth  ! 

RACHEL 

Three  for  a  wedding  — 

RAVENSBANE 
Four  for  a  birth  — 

RACHEL 
And  five  for  the  happiest  thing  on  earth ! 

RAVENSBANE 

Mistress  Rachel,  come !  Let  us  go  and  count  five 
crows. 

RACHEL 
[Delightedly. ~\ 

Why,  my  lord,  how  did  you  ever  learn  it  ?  I  got  it 
from  an  old  goody  here  in  town  —  a  real  witch-wife. 
If  you  will  promise  not  to  tell  a  secret,  I  will  show 
you.  —  But  you  must  promise  ! 

RAVENSBANE 

I  promise. 

.    RACHEL 

Come,  then.  I  will  show  you  a  real  piece  of  witch 
craft  that  I  bought  from  her  this  morning  —  the 
glass  of  truth.  There !  Behind  that  curtain.  If 


Il6  THE  SCARECROW 

you  look  in,  you  will  see  —    But  come ;  I  will  show 
you. 

[They  put  their  hands  on  the  cords  of  the  curtain.~\ 
Just  pull  that  string,  and  —  ah  ! 

DICKON 

[Stepping  out  through  the  curtain.] 
Your  pipe,  my  lord  ? 

RACHEL 
Master  Dickonson,  how  you  frightened  me ! 

DICKON 

So  excessively  sorry !  I  was  observing  the  por 
trait  of  your  uncle.  I  believe  you  were  showing  his 
lordship  — 

RACHEL 

[Turning  hurriedly  away.~\ 
Oh,  nothing  ;  nothing  at  all. 

RAVENSBANE 
[Sternly  to  Dickon."] 
Why  do  you  come  ? 

DICKON 
[Handing  back  Ravensbane*  s  pipe  filled.~\ 

Allow  me. 

[Aside.'} 

Tis  high  time  you  came  to  the  point,  Jack ;  'tis 


THE  SCARECROW  \\J 

near  your  lordship's  reception.     Woo  and  win,  boy  ; 
woo  and  win. 

RAVENSBANE 

[Haughtily.] 
Leave  me. 

DICKON 

Your  lordship's  humble,  very  humble. 
\_Exit.] 

RACHEL 

[Shivering.] 

Oh !  he  is  gone.  My  dear  lord,  why  do  you  keep 
this  man  ? 

RAVENSBANE 

I  —  keep  this  man  ? 

RACHEL 

I  cannot  —  pardon  my  rudeness  —  I  cannot  en 
dure  him. 

RAVENSBANE 

You  do  not  like  him  ?  Ah,  then,  I  do  not  like  him 
also.  We  will  send  him  away  —  you  and  I. 

RACHEL 

You,  my  lord,  of  course ;  but  I  — 

RAVENSBANE 

You  will  be  Dickon  !  You  will  be  with  me  always 
and  light  my  pipe.  And  I  will  live  for  you,  and 
fight  for  you,  and  kill  your  betrothed ! 


Il8  THE   SCARECROW 

RACHEL 

\_Drawing  away^\ 
No,  no ! 

RAVENSBANE 

Ah  !  but  your  eyes  say  "  yes."  Mistress  Rachel 
leaves  me;  but  Rachel  in  her  eyes  remains.  Is  it 
not  so  ? 

RACHEL 

What  can  I  say,  my  lord !  It  is  true  that  since 
my  eyes  met  yours,  a  new  passion  has  entered  into 
my  soul.  I  have  felt  —  your  lordship  will  laugh  at 
me  —  I  have  felt  an  inexpressible  longing  —  but  'tis 
so  impertinent,  my  lord,  so  absurd  in  me,  a  mere  girl, 
and  you  a  nobleman  of  power  —  yet  I  have  felt  it 
irresistibly,  my  dear  lord,  —  a  longing  to  help  you. 
I  am  so  sorry  for  you  —  so  sorry  for  you  !  I  pity 
you  deeply.  —  Forgive  me  ;  forgive  me,  my  lord  ! 

RAVENSBANE 
It  is  enough.  « 

RACHEL 

Indeed,  indeed,  'tis  so  rude  of  me,  —  'tis  so  un 
reasonable. 

RAVENSBANE 

It  is  enough.  I  grow — I  grow — I  grow!  I  am 
a  plant ;  you  give  it  rain  and  sun.  I  am  a  flower ;  you 
give  it  light  and  dew ;  I  am  a  soul,  you  give  it  love 
and  speech.  I  grow.  Towards  you  —  towards  you 
I  grow ! 

RACHEL 

My  lord,  I  do  not  understand  it,  how  so  poor  and 


THE  SCARECROW  1 19 

mere  a  girl  as  I  can  have  helped  you.     Yet  I  do  be 
lieve  it  is  so  ;  for  I  feel  it  so.    What  can  I  do  for  you  ? 

RAVENSBANE 

Do  not  leave  me.     Be  mine.     Let  me  be  yours. 

RACHEL 

Ah  !  but,  my  lord  —  do  I  love  you  ? 

RAVENSBANE 

What  is  "  I  love  you  "  ?  Is  it  a  kiss,  a  sigh,  an 
embrace  ?  Ah  !  then,  you  do  not  love  me.  —  "I  love 
you":  is  it  to  nourish,  to  nestle,  to  lift  up,  to  smile 
upon,  to  make  greater  —  a  worm  ?  Ah  !  then,  you 
love  me. 

[Enter  RICHARD  at  left  back,  unobserved.^ 

RACHEL 

Do  not  speak  so  of  yourself,  my  lord ;  nor  exalt  me 
so  falsely. 

RAVENSBANE 

Be  mine. 

RACHEL 

A  great  glory  has  descended  upon  this  day. 

RAVENSBANE 

Be  mine. 

RACHEL 

Could  I  but  be  sure  that  this  glory  is  love  —  Oh, 

then  ! 

[Turns  toward  Ravensbanel\ 


120  THE  SCARECROW 

RICHARD 

{Stepping  between  them.~] 
It  is  not  love ;  it  is  witchcraft. 

RACHEL 
Who  are  you  ?  —  Richard  ? 

RICHARD 

You  have  indeed  forgotten  me?     Would  to  God, 
Rachel,  I  could  forget  you. 

RAVENSBANE 

Sir,  permit  me  — 

RICHARD 

Silence ! 

[To  Rachel.] 

Against  my  will,  I  am  a  convert  to  your  own  mys 
ticism  ;  for  nothing  less  than  damnable  illusion  could 
so  instantly  wean  your  heart  from  me  to  —  this.  I 
do  not  pretend  to  understand  it ;  but  that  it  is  witch 
craft  I  am  convinced ;  and  I  will  save  you  from  it. 

RACHEL 
Go ;  please  go. 

RAVENSBANE 
Permit  me,  sir ;  you  have  not  replied  yet  to  flails ! 

RICHARD 
Permit  me,  sir. 

[Taking  some  thing  from  his  coat.~\ 
My  answer  is  —  bare  cob  ! 

[Holding  otit  a  shelled  corn-cob.'} 


THE  SCARECROW  121 

Thresh  this,  sir,  for  your  antagonist.     Tis  the  only 
one  worthy  your  lordship. 

\_Tosses  it  contemptuously  towards  him.~\ 

RAVENSBANE 

Upon  my  honour,  as  a  man  — • 

RICHARD 

As  a  man  forsooth!  Were  you  indeed  a  man, 
Lord  Ravensbane,  I  would  have  accepted  your 
weapons,  and  flailed  you  out  of  New  England.  But 
it  is  not  my  custom  to  chastise  runagates  from 
asylums,  or  to  banter  further  words  with  a  natural 

and  a  ninny. 

RACHEL 

Squire  Talbot !     Will  you  leave  my  uncle's  house  ? 

RAVENSBANE 

One  moment,  mistress  :  —  I  did  not  wholly  catch  the 
import  of  this  gentleman's  speech,  but  I  fancy  I  have 
insulted  him  by  my  reply  to  his  challenge.  One  in 
sult  may  perhaps  be  remedied  by  another.  Sir,  per 
mit  me  to  call  you  a  ninny,  and  to  offer  you  — 

\_Drawing  his  sword  and  offering  it.~\ 
swords. 

RICHARD 

Thanks ;  I  reject  the  offer. 

RAVENSBANE 

[Turning  away  despondently^ 
He  rejects  it.     Well! 


122  THE  SCARECROW 

RACHEL 
[To  Richard.'} 
And  now  will  you  leave  ? 

RICHARD 

At  once.  But  one  word  more.  Rachel  —  Rachel, 
have  you  forgotten  this  morning  and  the  glass  of 
truth  ? 

RACHEL 

[Coldly.'] 
No. 

RICHARD 

Call  it  a  fancy  now  if  you  will.  I  scoffed  at  it ; 
yes.  Yet  you  believed  it.  I  loved  you  truly,  you 
said.  Well,  have  I  changed  ? 

RACHEL 

Yes. 

RICHARD 

Will  you  test  me  again  —  in  the  glass  ? 

RACHEL 

No.     Go ;  leave  us. 

RICHARD 

I  will  go.     I  have  still  a  word  with  your  aunt. 

RAVENSBANE 
[To  Richard.} 

I  beg  your  pardon,  sir.  You  said  just  now  that 
had  I  been  a  man  — 


THE  SCARECROW  123 

RICHARD 

I  say,  Lord  Ravensbane,  that  the  straight  fibre  of 
a  true  man  never  warps  the  love  of  a  woman.  As 
for  yourself,  you  have  my  contempt  and  pity.  Pray 
to  God,  sir,  pray  to  God  to  make  you  a  man. 

[Exit,  right.] 
RACHEL 

Oh !  it  is  intolerable  ! 

[To  Ravensbane] 

My  dear  lord,  I  do  believe  in  my  heart  that  I  love 
you,  and  if  so,  I  will  with  gratitude  be  your  wife. 
But,  my  lord,  strange  glamours,  strange  darknesses 
reel,  and  bewilder  my  mind.  I  must  be  alone;  I 
must  think  and  decide.  Will  you  give  me  this 
tassel ? 

RAVENSBANE 

[Unfastening  a  silk  tassel  from  his  coat  and  giving  it  to  her] 
Oh,  take  it. 

RACHEL 

If  I  decide  that  I  love  you,  that  I  will  be  your  wife 
—  I  will  wear  it  this  afternoon  at  the  reception. 

Good-by  * 

[Exit,  right] 

RAVENSBANE 

Mistress  Rachel !  — 

[Solus.] 


124  THE  SCARECROW 

God,  are  you  here  ?     Dear  God,  I  pray  to  you  — - 
make  me  to  be  a  man  ! 

[Exit,  left.} 

DICKON 
[Appearing  in  the  centre  of  the  room} 

Poor  Jacky !     Thou  shouldst  'a'  prayed  to  t'other 

one. 

x    s*  ~tt-.jp'  ''-* 

[He    disappears.      Enter,    right,   RICHARD,  and   MISTRESS 
MERTON.] 

MISTRESS  MERTON 
[Pointing  to  the  wall} 
That  is  the  portrait. 

RICHARD 

Indeed !     The  design  is  very  like. 

MISTRESS   MERTON 

'  'Tis  more  than  like,  Richard ;  'tis  the  very  same. 
Two  and  twenty  years  ago  she  embroidered  it  for 
him,  and  he  would  insist  on  wearing  it  for  the  por 
trait  he  was  then  sitting  for. 

RICHARD 

That  same  Goody  Rickby ! 

MISTRESS   MERTON 

A  pretty  girl !  —  and  a  wild  young  man  was  my 
brother.    The  truth  comes  hard  to  tell  thee,  Richard ; 


THE  SCARECROW  12$ 

but  he  was  wild,  Gilead  was  wild.  He  told  me  the 
babe  had  died.  But  God  worketh  His  own  righteous 
ness.  Only  —  he  must  be  saved  now ;  Rachel  must 
be  saved ;  we  must  all  be  saved. 

RICHARD 

You  feel  sure  —  very  sure,  Mistress  Merton  ? 

MISTRESS   MERTON 

Yea,  that  waistcoat;  'tis  the  very  one,  I  know  it 
too  well.  And  you  see  it  accounts  for  all,  —  this 
silly  impostor  lord ;  my  brother's  strange  patronage 
of  him ;  the  blackmail  of  this  Master  Dickonson  — 

RICHARD 

But  who  is  he  ? 

MISTRESS  MERTON 

Nay,  heaven  knows !  Some  old  crony  perchance 
of  Gilead's  youth ;  some  confederate  of  this  woman 
Rickby. 

RICHARD 

O  God !  —  And  Rachel  sacrificed  to  these  im 
postors  ;  to  an  illegitimate  —  your  brother  would 
allow  it ! 

MISTRESS   MERTON 

Ah !  but  think  of  his  own  reputation,  Richard. 
He  a  justice  —  the  family  honour ! 

RICHARD 

'Tis  enough.  Well,  and  I  must  see  this  Goody 
Rickby,  you  think? 


THE  SCARECROW 
MISTRESS   MERTON 

At  once  —  at  once.     My  brother  has  invited  guests 
for  this  afternoon  to  meet  "  his  lordship  "  !     Return, 
if  possible,  before   they  come.     She   dwells   at  the 
blacksmith  shop  —you  must  buy  her  off.     Oh,  gold 
will  buy  her ;  'tis  the  gold  they're  after  —  all  of  them ; 
have  her  recall  both  these  persons. 
[  Giving  a  purse. ~\ 
Take  her  that,  Richard,  and  promise  her  more. 

RICHARD 
[Proudly.] 

Keep  it,  Mistress  Merton.  I  have  enough  gold,  me- 
thinks,  for  my  future  wife's  honour ;  or  if  not,  I  will 
earn  it. 

[Exit.] 

MISTRESS  MERTON 

Richard !  Ah,  the  dear  lad,  he  should  have  taken 
it. 

[Enter  MICAH.] 

MICAH 

The  minister  and  his  wife  have  turned  into  the 
gate,  madam. 

MISTRESS  MERTON 

The  guests !     Is  it  so  late  ? 

MICAH 

Four  o'clock,  madam. 

[Going  to  Me  gable.] 

Shall  I  remove  these  ? 


THE  SCARECROW 


MISTRESS   MERTON 

Flails  !  Flails  in  the  parlour  ?  Of  course,  remove 
them. 

MICAH 
[At  the  door.] 

Madam,  in  all  my  past  years  of  service  at  Merton 
House,  I  never  waited  upon  a  lord  till  to-day. 
Madam,  in  all  my  future  years  of  service  at  Merton 
House,  I  trust  I  may  never  wait  upon  a  lord  again. 

MISTRESS   MERTON 

Micah,  mind  the  knocker. 

MICAH 

Yes,  madam. 

[Exit  at  left  back.     Sounds  of  a  brass  knocker  outside] 

MISTRESS   MERTON 

Rachel  !     Rachel  ! 
[Exit,  right.     Enter,  left,  JUSTICE  MERTON  and  DICKON.] 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

So  you  are  contented  with  nothing  less  than  the 
sacrifice  of  my  niece  ? 

DICKON 
Such  a  delightful  room  ! 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

Are  you  merciless  ? 


128  THE  SCARECROW 

DICKON 

And  such  a  living  portrait  of  your  worship !  The 
waistcoat  is  so  beautifully  executed. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

If  I  pay  him  ten  thousand  pounds  — 
[Enter  MICAH.] 

MICAH 

Minister  Dodge,  your  worship ;  and  Mistress 
Dodge. 

[Exit.     Enter  the  MINISTER  and  his  WIFE.] 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

[Stepping  forward  to  receive  them.'] 

Believe  me,  this  is  a  great  privilege.  —  Madam  ! 

[Bowing.] 

MINISTER  DODGE 
[Taking  his  hand] 

The  privilege  is  ours,  Justice ;  to  enter  a  righteous 
man's  house  is  to  stand,  as  it  were,  on  God's  threshold. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

[Nervously] 

Amen,  amen.  Permit  me  —  ah !  Lord  Ravens- 
bane,  my  young  guest  of  honour,  will  be  here  directly 
—  permit  me  to  present  his  lordship's  tutor,  Master 


THE   SCARECROW  129 

Dickonson;  The  Reverend  Master  Dodge,  Mistress 
Dodge. 

MINISTER  DODGE 
[  Offering  his  handl\ 
Master  Dickonson,  sir  — 

DICKON 

{Barely  touching  the  minister's  fingers,  bows  charmingly  to 
his  wife^\ 

Madam,  of  all  professions  in  the  world,  your  hus 
band's  most  allures  me. 

MISTRESS  DODGE 

'Tis  a  worthy  one,  sir. 

DICKON 

Ah !  Mistress  Dodge,  and  so  arduous  —  especially 
for  a  minister's  wife. 

\He  leads  her  to  a  chair."] 
Thank  you. 


MISTRESS   DODGE 
[Accepting  the  chair.'] 


MINISTER  DODGE 
Lord  Ravensbane  comes  from  abroad  ? 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

From  London. 

MINISTER  DODGE 

An  old  friend  of  yours,  I  understand. 

K 


130  THE  SCARECROW 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

From  London,  yes.  Did  I  say  from  London? 
Quite  so ;  from  London. 

[Enter  MICAH.] 

MICAH 
Captain  Bugby,  the  Governor's  secretary. 

\Exit.  Enter  CAPTAIN  BUGBY.  He  walks  with  a  slight 
lameness,  and  holds  daintily  in  his  hand  a  pipe,  from 
which  he  puffs  with  dandy  deliberation?^ 

CAPTAIN  BUGBY 

Justice  Merton,  your  very  humble  servant. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Believe  me,  Captain  Bugby. 

CAPTAIN  BUGBY 
\Prof us  elyl\ 

Ah,  Master  Dickonson !  my  dear  friend  Master 
Dickonson  —  this  is  indeed  —  ah  !  How  is  his  lord 
ship  since  —  aha !  but  discretion !  Mistress  Dodge 
—  her  servant !  Ah  !  yes, 

^Indicating  his  pipe  with  a  smile  of  satisfaction?^ 

the  latest,  I  assure  you ;  the  very  latest  from  London. 
Ask  Master  Dickonson. 

MINISTER  DODGE 
[Looking  at  Captain  Bugbyl\ 
These  will  hatch  out  in  the  springtime. 


THE  SCARECROW  131 

CAPTAIN  BUGBY 
[Confidentially  to  Dickon^ 

But  really,  my  good  friend,  may  not  I  venture  to 
inquire  how  his  lordship  —  ah !  has  been  in  health 
since  the  —  ah !  since  — 

DICKON 
[Impressively.^ 
Oh  !  quite,  quite  ! 

[Enter  MISTRESS  MERTON;   she  joins  Justice  Merton  and 
Minister  Dodge.} 

CAPTAIN  BUGBY 

You  know,  I  informed  Squire  Talbot  of  his  lord 
ship's  epigrammatic  retort  —  his  retort  of  —  shh  !  ha 
haha !  Oh,  that  reply  was  a  stiletto ;  'twas  sharper 
than  a  sword-thrust,  I  assure  you.  To  have  con 
ceived  it  —  'twas  inspiration ;  but  to  have  expressed 
it  — oh!  'twas  genius.  Hush!  "Flails!"  Oh! 
It  sticks  me  now  in  the  ribs.  I  shall  die  with  con 
cealing  it. 

MINISTER  DODGE 
[To  Mistress  Merton.~\ 

'Tis  true,  mistress;  but  if  there  were  more  like 
your  brother  in  the  parish,  the  conscience  of  the 
community  would  be  clearer. 

[Enter  MICAH.] 


132  THE  SCARECROW 

MICAH 

The  Reverend  Master  Rand  of  Harvard  College; 
the  Reverend  Master  Todd  of  Harvard  College. 

[Exit.     Enter  two  elderly,  straight-backed  divinesJ] 

JUSTICE  MERTON 
[Greeting  them.'] 

Permit  me,  gentlemen ;  this  is  fortunate  —  before 
your  return  to  Cambridge. 

[He  conducts  them  to  Mistress  Merton  and  Minister  Dodge, 
centre.  Seated  left,  Dickon  is  ingratiating  himself 
with  Mistress  Dodge;  Captain  Bugby,  laughed  at  by 
both  parties,  is  received  by  neither.] 

CAPTAIN  BUGBY 
\_Puffing  smoke  toward  the  ceiling] 

Really,  I  cannot  understand  what  keeps  his  Ex 
cellency,  the  Lieutenant  Governor,  so  long.  He  has 
two  such  charming  daughters,  Master  Dickonson  — 

DICKON 
{To  Mistress  Dodge.] 

Yes,  yes  ;  such  suspicious  women  with  their  charms 
are  an  insult  to  the  virtuous  ladies  of  the  parish. 

CAPTAIN  BUGBY 

How,  sir  ! 

MISTRESS  DODGE 

And  to  think  that  she  should  actually  shoe  horses 
herself ! 


THE  SCARECROW  133 

DICKON 

It  is  too  hard,  dear  Mistress  Dodge ;  too  hard ! 

MISTRESS  DODGE 

You  are  so  appreciative,  Master  Dickonson. 

CAPTAIN  BUGBY 

{Piqued,  walks  another  way.~\ 
Well ! 

REV.    MASTER  RAND 
{To  Justice  Merton.~] 

It  would  not  be  countenanced  in  the  college  yard, 

sir. 

REV.    MASTER  TODD 

A  pipe  !     Nay,  mores  inhibitae  ! 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

'Tis  most   unfortunate,  gentlemen ;    but  I  under 
stand  'tis  the  new  vogue  in  London. 

[Enter  MICAH.] 

MICAH 

His   Excellency,    Sir    Charles    Reddington,    Lieu 
tenant  Governor ;  the  Mistress  Reddingtons. 

CAPTAIN  BUGBY 

At  last ! 

MISTRESS   MERTON 

[Aside.'] 
Micah. 

\_Micah  goes  to  her.     Enter  SIR   CHARLES,  MISTRESS  RED 
DINGTON,  and  AMELIA  REDDINGTON.] 


134  THE  SCARECROW 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Your  Excellency,  this  is  indeed  a  distinguished 
honour. 

SIR  CHARLES 
[Shaking  handsJ] 
Fine  weather,  Merton.     Where's  your  young  lord  ? 

THE  TWO  GIRLS 

[  Courtesying.~\ 
Justice  Merton,  Mistress  Merton. 

MICAH 

[To  Mistress  Merton,  as  he  is  going  out,  right.] 
I  will  speak  to  them,  madam. 

CAPTAIN  BUGBY 

Oh,  my  dear  Mistress  Reddington!  Charming 
Mistress  Amelia  !  You  are  so  very  late,  but  you 
shall  hear  —  hush  ! 

MISTRESS  REDDINGTON 
[Noticing  his  pipe. ,] 

Why,  what  is  this,  Captain  ? 

CAPTAIN  BUGBY 

Oh,  the  latest,  I  assure  you,  the  very  latest.  Wait 
till  you  see  his  lordship. 


THE   SCARECROW  135 

AMELIA 

What !  isn't  he  here  ? 

[Laughing.] 
La,  Captain  !     Do  look  at  the  man ! 

CAPTAIN  BUGBY 

Oh,  he's  coming  directly.  Quite  the  mode  — 
what  ?  Ah  !  but,  ladies,  you  shall  hear. 

\_He  talks  to  them  aside,  where  they  titter.~\ 

SIR  CHARLES 
{To  Dickon^ 
What  say  ?     Travelling  for  his  health  ? 

DICKON 

Partially,  your  Excellency ;  but  my  young  pupil  and 
master  is  a  singularly  affectionate  nature. 

THE  TWO  GIRLS 
{To  Captain  BugbyJ] 
What!  flails  — really! 

[They  durst  into  laughter  among  themselves^ 

DICKON 

He  has  journeyed  here  to  Massachusetts  peculiarly 
to  pay  this  visit  to  Justice  Merton  —  his  father's 
dearest  friend. 

SIR   CHARLES 

Ah  !  knew  him  abroad,  eh  ? 


THE  SCARECROW 
DICKON 

In  Rome,  your  Excellency. 

MISTRESS  DODGE 
[To  Justice  MertonJ] 
Why,  I  thought  it  was  in  London. 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

London,  true,  quite  so ;  we  made  a  trip  together  to 
Lisbon  —  ah  !  Rome. 

DICKON 
Paris,  was  it  not,  sir  ? 

JUSTICE  MERTON 
[In  great  distress. ,] 

Paris,  Paris,  very  true ;  I  am  -—  I  am  —  sometimes 
I  am  — 

\_Enter  MICAH,  right.'} 

MICAH 

[Announces. ~\ 
Lord  Ravensbane. 

[Enter  right,  RAVENSBANE  with  RACHEL.] 

JUSTICE  MERTON 
[  With  a  gasp  of  relief.~\ 
Ah !  his  lordship  is  arrived. 

[Murmurs  of  "  his  lordship  "  and  a  flutter  among  the  girls 
and  Captain  Bugby.~\ 


THE   SCARECROW  137 

CAPTAIN  BUGBY 

Look !  —  Now ! 

JUSTICE  MERTON 
Welcome,  my  lord ! 

\To  Sir  Charles.] 
Permit  me,  your  Excellency,  to  introduce  — 

RAVENSBANE 

Permit  me ;  Mistress  Rachel  will  introduce  — 

RACHEL 

\_Courtesying.~] 

Sir  Charles,  allow  me  to  present  my  friend,  Lord 
Ravensbane. 

MISTRESS   REDDINGTON 

[Aside  to  Amelia] 
Her  friend — did  you  hear? 

SIR    CHARLES 

Mistress  Rachel,  I  see  you  are  as  pretty  as  ever. 
Lord  Ravensbane,  your  hand,  sir. 

RAVENSBANE 

Trust   me,   your    Excellency,    I    will    inform    his 
Majesty  of  your  courtesy. 

CAPTAIN   BUGBY 

[  Watching  Ravensbane  with  chagrin] 
On  my  life  !  he's  lost  his  limp. 


138  THE  SCARECROW 

RAVENSBANE 
\_Apart  to  Rachel.'] 
"A  great  glory  has  descended  upon  this  day." 

RACHEL 

[.Shyly.-] 
My  lord ! 

RAVENSBANE 

Be  sure  —  O  mistress,  be  sure  —  that  this  glory  is 
love. 

SIR  CHARLES 

[  Watching  the  two,  whispers  a  loud  aside  to  Justice  MertonJ] 
Hoho !  is  it  congratulations  for  your  niece  ? 

JUSTICE  MERTON 
Not  —  not  precisely. 

DICKON 

[Aside  to  Justice  Merton.] 
Why  so,  Gilly  ? 

SIR  CHARLES 

My  daughters,  Fanny  and  Amelia  —  Lord  Ravens- 
bane. 

THE  TWO   GIRLS 

\_Courtesying.] 
Your  lordship ! 

SIR  CHARLES 

Good  girls,  but  silly. 

THE  TWO  GIRLS 

Papa! 


THE  SCARECROW  139 

RAVENSBANE 

Believe  me,  ladies,  with  the  true  sincerity  of  the 

heart. 

MISTRESS  REDDINGTON 

Isn't  he  perfection ! 

CAPTAIN  BUGBY 
What  said  I  ? 

AMELIA 

[Giggling.] 
I  can't  help  thinking  of  flails. 

MISTRESS   REDDINGTON 

Poor  Squire  Talbot!    We  must   be   nice   to   him 
now. 

AMELIA 

Oh,  especially  now  ! 

RAVENSBANE 

\_Whom  Rachel  continues   to   introduce   to   the  guests;    to 
Master  Rand.~\ 

Verily,  sir,  as  that  prince  of  poets,  the  immortal 
Virgil,  has  remarked : 

"  Adeo  in  teneris  consuescere  multum  est." 

DICKON 
Just  a  word,  your  worship. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

[Going  with  him.~\ 
Intolerable ! 


THE  SCARECROW 
REV.   MASTER  TODD 

His  lordship  is  evidently  a  university  man. 


REV.   MASTER  RAND 

Evidently  most  accomplished. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 
\_Aside  to  Dickon.~\ 

A  song  !     Why,  it  is  beyond  all  bounds  of  custom 
and  decorum. 

DICKON 

Believe  me,  there  is  no  such  flatterer  to  win  the 
maiden  heart  as  music. 


JUSTICE  MERTON 

And  here  ;  in  this  presence  !    Never  ! 


DICKON 

Nevertheless,  it  will  amuse  me  vastly,  and  you  will 
announce  it. 

RAVENSBANE 
{To  Minister  Dodge  ^ 

My  opinion  is  simple  :  In  such  matters  of  church 
government,  I  am  inclined  toward  the  leniency  of 
that  excellent  master,  the  Rev.  John  Wise,  rather  than 
the  righteous  obduracy  of  the  Rev.  Cotton  Mather. 


THE  SCARECROW  141 

MINISTER  DODGE 

Why,  there,  sir,  I  agree  with  you. 
\Aside  to  his  wife.~\ 
How  extremely  well  informed ! 

MISTRESS  DODGE 
And  so  young,  too ! 

JUSTICE  MERTON 
[  With  hesitant  embarrassment,  which  he  seeks  to  conceal.~\ 

Your  Excellency  and  friends,  I  have  great  pleasure 
in  announcing  his  lordship's  condescension  in  con 
senting  to  regale  our  present  company — with  a  song. 

SEVERAL  VOICES 
\_In  various  degrees  of  amazement  and  curiosity.  ~\ 

A  song ! 

MISTRESS   MERTON 

Gilead !     What  is  this  ? 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

The  selection  is  a  German  ballad  —  a  particular 
favourite  at  the  court  of  Prussia,  where  his  lordship  last 
rendered  it.  His  tutor  has  made  a  translation  which 
is  entitled:  "The  Prognostication  of  the  Crows,"  and 
I  am  requested  to  remind  you  that  in  the  ancient 
heathen  mythology  of  Germany,  the  crow  or  raven, 
was  the  fateful  bird  of  the  God  WToden. 


I42  THE   SCARECROW 

CAPTAIN  BUGBY 

How  prodigiously  novel ! 

MINISTER  DODGE 
Unparalleled ! 

SIR   CHARLES 

A  ballad !  Come  now,  that  sounds  like  old  Eng 
land  again.  Let's  have  it.  Will  his  lordship  sing 
without  music  ? 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Master  Dickonson,  hem !   has  been  —  persuaded 

to  accompany  his  lordship  on  the  virginals. 

AMELIA 

How  delightful! 

REV.   MASTER   RAND 

{Aside  to  Todd.~\ 
Shall  we  remain  ? 

REV.   MASTER  TODD 

We  must. 

RAVENSBANE 

{To  Rachel^ 
My  tassel,  dear  mistress ;  you  do  not  wear  it  ? 

RACHEL 

My  heart  still  wavers,  my  lord.      But  whilst  you 
sing,  I  will  decide. 


THE  SCARECROW  143 

RAVENSBANE 

Whilst  I  sing  ?     My  fate,  then,  is  waiting  at  the 
end  of  a  song  ? 

RACHEL 

At  the  end  of  a  song. 

DICKON 

\_Touches  Ravensbane*s  arm.~\ 
Your  lordship. 

RAVENSBANE 

{Starting,  turns  to  the  company^ 
Permit  me. 

[Dickon  sits,  facing  left,  at  the  virginals.  At  first,  his  fingers 
in  playing  give  sound  only  to  the  soft  tinkling  notes  of 
that  ancient  instrument;  but  gradually,  strange  notes 
and  harmonies  of  an  aerial  orchestra  mingle  with,  and 
at  length  drown,  the  virginals.  The  final  chorus  is 
produced  solely  by  fantastic  symphonic  cawings,  as  of 
countless  crows,  in  harsh  but  musical  accord.  Ditring 
the  song  Richard  enters.  Dickon's  music,  however,  does 
not  cease  but  fills  the  intervals  between  the  verses.  To 
his  accompaniment,  amid  the  whispered  and  gradually 
increasing  wonder,  resentment,  and  dismay  of  the  assem 
bled  guests,  Ravensbane,  with  his  eyes  fixed  upon  Rachel, 
sings. ~] 

Baron  von  Rabenstod  arose  ; 

(The  golden  sun  was  rising) 
Before  him  flew  a  flock  of  crows  : 

Sing  heigh  !    Sing  heigh  !  Sing  heigh  !   Sing  — 


144  THE  SCARECROW 

"  111  speed,  ill  speed  thee,  baron-wight ; 

111  speed  thy  palfrey  pawing ! 
Blithe  is  the  morn  but  black  the  night 

That  hears  a  raven's  cawing." 

[Chorus.] 
Caw  !     Caw !     Caw  ! 

MISTRESS  DODGE 
[Whispers  to  her  husband."] 
Did  you  hear  them  ? 

MINISTER  DODGE 
Hush! 

AMELIA 

[Sotto  voce.~] 
What  can  it  be  ? 

CAPTAIN  BUGBY 

Oh,  the  latest,  be  sure. 

DICKON 

You  note,  my  friends,  the  accompanying  harmonics ; 
they  are  an  intrinsic  part  of  the  ballad,  and  may  not 
be  omitted. 

RAVESNBANE 
[Sings.-] 

The  baron  recked  not  a  pin ; 

(For  the  golden  sun  was  rising) 
He  rode  to  woo,  he  rode  to  win ; 

Sing  heigh  !    Sing  heigh  !    Sing  heigh !    Sing  — 


THE  SCARECROW  145 

He  rode  into  his  prince's  hall 

Through  knights  and  damsels  flow'ry  : 

"  Thy  daughter,  prince,  I  bid  thee  call ; 
I  claim  her  hand  and  dowry." 

[Enter  Richard.   Mistress  Merton  seizes  his  arm  nervously. ~\ 

MISTRESS   MERTON 

[Aside.} 

Well  ? 

RICHARD 

Gold  will  not  buy  her.     She  defies  us. 

SIR   CHARLES 
[To  Captain  Bugby.] 
This  gentleman's  playing  is  rather  ventriloquistical. 

CAPTAIN  BUGBY 

Quite,  as  it  were. 

REV.    MASTER  TODD 

This  smells  unholy. 

REV.    MASTER   RAND 
[To  Todd.~} 

Shall  we  leave  ? 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

[Sternly  to  Richard,  who  has  attempted  to   talk  with  him 

aside. ~\ 
Not  now. 


146  THE   SCARECROW 

RICHARD 

Pardon  me — it  must  be  now. 


JUSTICE   MERTON 

Squire  Talbot  — 

RICHARD 
[  Very  low.~\ 
Sir  —  I  come  from  Goody  Rickby. 


JUSTICE  MERTON 

Hush! 

[They  go  apart.~\ 


RAVENSBANE 
[Sings.] 

"  What  cock  is  this,  with  crest  so  high, 

That  crows  with  such  a  pother?" 
"  Baron  von  Rabenstod  am  I; 

Methinks  we  know  each  other." 
"  Now  welcome,  welcome,  dear  guest  of  mine, 

So  long  why  didst  thou  tarry  ? 
Now,  for  the  sake  of  auld  lang  syne, 

My  daughter  thou  shalt  marry." 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

[To  Richard?[ 
Spare  me,  I  am  helpless. 


THE   SCARECROW  147 

RICHARD 

What !  you  will  sacrifice  her  ? 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

What  can  I  do  ? 

RICHARD 

Tell  her  the  truth  at  least. 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Never,  Richard,  no,  no,  never  that ! 

AMELIA 

\To  Bugby.~\ 
And  he  kept  right  on  smoking! 

MINISTER  DODGE 

{Who,  with  Rand  and  Todd,  has  risen  uneasily.'} 
This  smacks  of  witchcraft. 

REV.    MASTER   RAND 

The  Justice  seems  moved. 

RAVENSBANE 

[Sings.-] 

The  bride  is  brought,  the  priest  as  well  ; 

(The  golden  sun  was  passing) 
They  stood  beside  the  altar  rail ; 

Sing  ah  !     Sing  ah  !     Sing  ah  !     Sing  — 


148  THE  SCARECROW 

"  Woman,  with  this  ring  I  thee  wed." 
What  makes  his  voice  so  awing? 

The  baron  by  the  bride  is  dead : 
Outside  the  crows  were  cawing. 

Chorus. 

[  Which  grows  tumultuous,  seeming  to  fill  the  room  with  the 
invisible  birds.] 

Caw !     Caw !     Caw ! 

\The  guests  rise  in  confusion.     Dickon  still  plays  delightedly, 
and  the  strange  music  continues.'} 

MINISTER  DODGE 

This  is  no  longer  godly. — Justice  Merton! 

RICHARD 
[To  Justice  Merton] 

I  told  you,  sir,  that  witchcraft,  like  murder,  will  out 
If  you  want  further  proof,  I  believe  I  can  provide  it. 

MINISTER  DODGE 
Justice  Merton,  sir ! 

RAVENSBANE 

\_To  Rachel,  who  holds  his  tassel  in  her  hand] 
Ah  !  and  you  have  my  tassel ! 

RACHEL 

See!     I  will  wear  it  now.      You  yourself   shall 
fasten  it. 


THE  SCARECROW  149 

RAVENSBANE 

Rachel !     Mistress ! 

RACHEL 
My  dear  lord  ! 

[As  Ravensbane  is  placing  the  silken  tassel  on  Rachel's  breast 
to  fasten  it  there,  Richard,  by  the  mirror,  pulls  the  cur 
tain  back.~\ 

RICHARD 

Lovers !     This  is  the  glass  of  truth.     Behold  your 
selves  ! 

RACHEL 

[Looking  into  the  glass,  screams  and  turns  her  gaze  fearfully 
upon  RavensbaneJ] 

Ah!     Do  not  look! 

DICKON 

[  Who,  having  turned  round  from  the  virginals,  has  leapt 
forward,  now  turns  back  again,  biting  his  finger.^ 

Too  late ! 

[In  the  glass  are  reflected  the  figures  of  Rachel  and  Ravensbane 
—  Rachel  just  as  she  herself  appears,  but  Ravensbane 
in  his  essential  form  of  a  scarecrow,  in  every  movement 
reflecting  Ravensbane' s  motions.  The  thing  in  the  glass 
is  about  to  pin  a  wisp  of  corn-silk  on  the  mirrored  breast 
of  the  maiden.~\ 

RAVENSBANE 

What  is  there  ? 

RACHEL 

[Looking  again,  starts  away  from  Ravensbane '.] 
Leave  me !     Leave  me  !  —  Richard ! 


150  THE  SCARECROW 

RAVENSBANE 

[  Gazing  at  the  glass,  clings  to  Rachel  as  though  to  protect  her.'] 
Help  her !     See !     It  is  seizing  her. 

RACHEL 

Richard ! 

\_Shefaints  in  Richard's  arms.'] 

RAVENSBANE 

Fear  not,  mistress,  I  will  kill  the  thing. 

[Drawing  his  sword,  he  rushes  at  the  glass.  Within,  the 
scarecrow,  with  a  drawn  wheel-spoke,  approaches  him 
at  equal  speed.  They  come  face  to  face  and  recoil.'] 

Ah  !  ah  !  fear'st  thou  me  ?  What  art  thou  ?  Why, 
'tis  a  glass.  Thou  mockest  me?  Look,  look,  mis 
tress,  it  mocks  me  !  O  God,  no  !  no  !  Take  it  away. 
Dear  God,  do  not  look !  —  It  is  I ! 

ALL 

\_Rushing  to  the  doors."] 
Witchcraft !     Witchcraft ! 

[As  Ravensbane  stands  frantically  confronting  his  abject  re 
flection,  struck  in  a  like  posture  of  despair,  the  curtain 
falls.] 


ACT    IV 


ACT   IV 

The  same.  Night.  The  moon,  shining  in  broadly  at  the 
window,  discovers  RAVENSBANE  alone,  prostrate  before 
the  mirror.  Raised  on  one  arm  to  a  half -sitting  posture, 
he  gazes  fixedly  at  the  vaguely  seen  image  of  the  scare 
crow  prostrate  in  the  glass. 

RAVENSBANE 

All  have  left  me  —  but  not  thou.  Rachel  has  left 
me ;  her  eyes  have  turned  away  from  me  ;  she  is 
gone.  And  with  her,  the  great  light  itself  from 
heaven  has  drawn  her  glorious  skirts,  contemptuous, 
from  me  —  and  they  are  gone  together.  Dickon,  he 
too  has  left  me  —  but  not  thou.  All  that  I  loved,  all 
that  loved  me,  have  left  me.  A  thousand  ages  —  a 
thousand  ages  ago,  they  went  away ;  and  thou  and  I 
have  gazed  upon  each  other's  desertedness.  Speak ! 
and  be  pitiful !  If  thou  art  I,  inscrutable  image,  if 
thou  dost  feel  these  pangs  thine  own,  show  then  self- 
mercy  ;  speak  !  What  art  thou  ?  What  am  I  ?  Why 
are  we  here  ?  How  comes  it  that  we  feel  and  guess 
and  suffer?  Nay,  though  thou  answer  not  these 
doubts,  yet  mock  them,  mock  them  aloud,  even  as 
there,  monstrous,  thou  counterfeitest  mine  actions. 
Speak,  abject  enigma  !  — Ah  !  with  what  vacant  horror 
it  looks  out  and  yearns  toward  me.  Peace  to  thee ! 

'S3 


154  THE  SCARECROW 

Thou  poor  delirious  mute,  prisoned  in  glass  and 
moonlight,  peace !  Thou  canst  not  escape  thy  gaol, 
nor  I  break  in  to  thee.  Poor  shadow,  thou  — 

[Recoiling  wildly. ~\ 

Stand  back,  inanity !  Thrust  not  thy  mawkish  face 
in  pity  toward  me.  Ape  and  idiot !  Scarecrow  !  — 
to  console  me !  Haha !  —  A  flail  and  broomstick  !  a 
cob,  a  gourd  and  pumpkin,  to  fuse  and  sublimate 
themselves  into  a  mage-philosopher,  who  puffeth 
metaphysics  from  a  pipe  and  discourseth  sweet  phi 
lanthropy  to  itself  —  itself,  God  !  Dost  Thou  hear  ? 
Itself  !  For  even  such  am  I  —  I  whom  Thou  madest 
to  love  Rachel.  Why,  God  —  haha  !  dost  Thou  dwell 
in  this  thing  ?  Is  it  Thou  that  peerest  forth  at  me  — 
from  me  ?  Why,  hark  then ;  Thou  shalt  listen,  and 
answer  —  if  Thou  canst.  Hark  then,  Spirit  of  life  ! 
Between  the  rise  and  setting  of  a  sun,  I  have  walked 
in  this  world  of  Thine.  I  have  gazed  upon  it,  I  have 
peered  within  it,  I  have  grown  enamoured,  enamoured 
of  it.  I  have  been  thrilled  with  wonder,  I  have  been 
calmed  with  knowledge,  I  have  been  exalted  with 
sympathy.  I  have  trembled  with  joy  and  passion. 
Power,  beauty,  love  have  ravished  me.  Infinity  it 
self,  like  a  dream,  has  blazed  before  me  with  the 
certitude  of  prophecy ;  and  I  have  cried,  "  This 
world,  the  heavens,  time  itself,  are  mine  to  conquer," 
and  I  have  thrust  forth  mine  arm  to  wear  Thy  shield 
forever  —  and  lo  !  for  my  shield  Thou  reachest-me  a 
mirror  —  and  whisperest :  "  Know  thyself !  Thou  art 
—  a  scarecrow :  a  tinkling  clod,  a  rigmarole  of  dust, 


THE   SCARECROW  155 

a  lump  of  ordure,  contemptible,  superfluous,  inane ! " 
Haha!  Hahaha!  And  with  such  scarecrows  Thou 
dost  people  a  planet !  O  ludicrous !  Monstrous !  Ludi 
crous  !  At  least,  I  thank  Thee,  God !  at  least, 
this  breathing  bathos  can  laugh  at  itself.  At  least 
this  hotch-potch  nobleman  of  stubble  is  enough  of 
an  epicure  to  turn  his  own  gorge.  Thou  hast  vouch 
safed  to  me,  Spirit,  —  hahaha  !  —  to  know  myself. 
Mine,  mine  is  the  consummation  of  man —  even  self- 
contempt  ! 

[Pointing  in  the  glass  with  an  agony  of  derision.'] 
Scarecrow  !     Scarecrow  !     Scarecrow ! 

,      THE  IMAGE  IN  THE  GLASS 

[More  and  more  faintly ,~] 
Scarecrow  !     Scarecrow  !     Scarecrow  ! 

\Ravensbane  throws  himself  prone  upon  the  floor,  beneath  the 
window,  sobbing.  There  is  a  pause  of  silence,  and  the 
moon  shines  brighter.  —  Slowly  then  Ravensbane,  getting 
to  his  knees,  looks  out  into  the  night."] 

RAVENSBANE 

What  face  are  you,  high  up  through  the  twinkling 
leaves  ?  Why  do  you  smile  upon  me  with  such  white 
beneficence  ?  Or  why  do  you  place  your  viewless 
hand  upon  my  brow,  and  say,  "  Be  comforted  "  ?  Do 
you  not,  like  all  the  rest,  turn,  aghast,  your  eyes  away 
from  me  —  me,  abject  enormity,  grovelling  at  your 
feet  ?  Gracious  being,  do  you  not  fear  —  despise  me  ? 
To  you  alone  am  I  not  hateful  —  unredeemed  ? 


156  THE  SCARECROW 

0  white  peace  of  the  world,  beneath  your  gaze  the 
clouds  glow  silver,  and  the  herded  cattle,  slumbering 
far  afield,  crouch  —  beautiful.    The  slough  shines  lus 
trous  as  a  bridal  veil.    Beautiful  face,  you  are  Rachel's, 
and  you  have  changed  the  world.     Nothing  is  mean, 
but  you  have  made  it  miraculous ;  nothing  is  loath 
some,  nothing  ludicrous,  but  you  have  converted  it  to 
loveliness,  that  even  this  shadow  of  a  mockery  my 
self,  cast  by  your  light,  gives  me  the  dear  assurance 

1  am  a  man.     Yea,  more,  that  I  too,  steeped  in  your 
universal  light,  am  beautiful.     For  you  are  Rachel, 
and  you  love  me.     You  are  Rachel  in  the  sky,  and 
the  might  of  your  serene  loveliness  has  transformed 
me.     Rachel,  mistress,  mother,   beautiful   spirit,  out 
of  my  suffering  you  have  brought  forth  my  soul.     I 
am  saved ! 

THE  IMAGE  IN  THE  GLASS 
A  very  pretty  sophistry. 
\_The  moonlight  grows  dimmer,  as  at  the  passing  of  a  cloudl\ 

RAVENSBANE 

Ah  !  what  voice  has  snatched  you  from  me  ? 

THE  IMAGE 

A  most  poetified  pumpkin ! 

RAVENSBANE 

Thing !  dost  thou  speak  at  last  ?     My  soul  abhors 
thee. 

THE  IMAGE 
I  am  thy  soul. 


THE  SCARECROW  1 57 

RAVENSBANE 

Thou  liest. 

THE  IMAGE 

Our  Daddy  Dickon  and  our  mother  Rickby  begot 
and  conceived  us  at  sunrise,  in  a  Jack-o'-lantern. 

RAVENSBANE 

Thou  liest,  torturing  illusion.  Thou  art  but  a  phan 
tom  in  a  glass. 

THE  IMAGE 

Why,  very  true.  So  art  thou.  We  are  a  pretty 
phantom  in  a  glass. 

RAVENSBANE 

It  is  a  lie.  I  am  no  longer  thou.  I  feel  it ;  I  am 
a  man. 

THE  IMAGE 

And  prithee,  what's  a  man  ?     Man's  but  a  mirror, 
Wherein  the  imps  and  angels  play  charades, 
Make  faces,  mope,  and  pull  each  other's  hair  — 
Till  crack !  the  sly  urchin  Death  shivers  the  glass, 
And  the  bare  coffin  boards  show  underneath. 

RAVENSBANE 

Yea !  if  it  be  so,  thou  coggery !  if  both  of  us  be  in 
deed  but  illusions,  why,  now  let  us  end  together.  But 
if  it  be  not  so,  then  let  me  for  evermore  be  free  of 
thee.  Now  is  the  test  —  the  glass  ! 

[Springing  to  the  fireplace,  he 'seizes  an  iron  cross-piece  from 
the  andirons^ 


158  THE  SCARECROW 

I'll  play  your  urchin  Death  and  shatter  it.  Let 
see  what  shall  survive ! 

\He  rushes  to  strike  the  glass  with  the  iron.     DICKON  steps 
out  of  the  mirror,  closing  the  curtain.~\ 

DICKON 
I  wouldn't,  really ! 

RAVENSBANE 

Dickon !  dear  Dickon !  is  it  you  ? 

DICKON 

Yes,  Jacky !  it's  dear  Dickon,  and  I  really  wouldn't. 

RAVENSBANE 

Wouldn't  what,  Dickon  ? 

DICKON 

Sweep  the  cobwebs  off  the  sky  with  thine  aspiring 
broomstick.  When  a  man  questions  fate,  'tis  bad  di 
gestion.  When  a  scarecrow  does  it,  'tis  bad  taste. 

RAVENSBANE 

At  last,  you  will  tell  me  the  truth,  Dickon !  Am  I 
then  —  that  thing  ? 

DICKON 

You  mustn't  be  so  sceptical.     Of   course   you're 
1  that  thing. 

RAVENSBANE 

Ah  me  despicable  !  Rachel,  why  didst  thou  ever 
look  upon  me  ? 


THE   SCARECROW  159 

DICKON 

I  fear,  cobby,  thou  hast  never  studied  woman's 
heart  and  hero-worship.  Take  thyself  now.  I  re 
marked  to  Goody  Bess,  thy  mother,  this  morning,  as 
I  was  chucking  her  thy  pate  from  the  hay-loft,  that 
thou  wouldst  make  a  Mark  Antony  or  an  Alexander 
before  night. 

RAVENSBANE 

Thou,  then,  didst  create  me ! 

DICKON 
[Bowing.  ] 

Appreciate  the  honour.  Your  lordship  was  de 
signed  for  a  corn-field ;  but  I  discerned  nobler  poten 
tialities  :  the  courts  of  Europe  and  Justice  Merton's 
salon.  In  brief,  your  lordship's  origins  were  pas 
toral,  like  King  David's. 

RAVENSBANE 

Cease !  cease !  in  pity's  name.  You  do  not  know 
the  agony  of  being  ridiculous. 

DICKON 

Nay,  Jacky^  all  mortals^arp  rirh'rnloyis^  Like  y 
they  were  rummaged  out  of  the^muck ;  and  like  you, 
they  shall  return  to  the  dunghill.  I  advise  'em,  like 
you,  to  enjoy  the  interim,  and  smoke. 

RAVENSBANE 

This  pipe,  this  ludicrous  pipe  that  I  forever  set 
to  my  lips  and  puff  !  Why  must  I,  Dickon  ?  Why  ? 


160  THE  SCARECROW 

DICKON 

To  avoid  extinction  —  merely.  You  see,  'tis  just  as 
your  fellow  in  there 

\_Pointing  to  the  glass. ,] 

explained.  You  yourself  are  the  subtlest  of  mirrors, 
polished  out  of  pumpkin  and  pipe-smoke.  Into  this 
mirror  the  fair  Mistress  Rachel  has  projected  her 
lovely  image,  and  thus  provided  you  with  what  men 
call  a  soul. 

RAVENSBANE 

Ah !  then,  I  have  a  soul  —  the  truth  of  me  ?  Mis 
tress  Rachel  has  indeed  made  me  a  man  ? 

DICKON 

Don't  flatter  thyself,  cobby.  Break  thy  pipe,  and 
whiff  —  soul,  Mistress  Rachel,  man,  truth,  and  this 
pretty  world  itself,  go  up  in  the  last  smoke. 

RAVENSBANE 

No,  no  !  not  Mistress  Rachel  —  for  she  is  beautiful ; 
and  the  images  of  beauty  are  immutable.  She  told 
me  so. 

DICKON 

What  a  Platonic  young  lady  !  Nevertheless,  believe 
me,  Mistress  Rachel  exists  for  your  lordship  merely 
in  your  lordship's  pipe-bowl. 

RAVENSBANE 

Wretched,  niggling  caricature  that  I  am !  All  is 
lost  to  me  —  all ! 


THE  SCARECROW  l6l 

DICKON 

"  Paradise  Lost "  again  !  Always  blaming  it  on  me. 
There's  that  gaunt  fellow  in  England  has  lately  wrote 
a  parody  on  me  when  I  was  in  the  apple  business. 

RAVENSBANE 

[Falling  on  his  knees  and  bowing  his  head.] 
O  God  !  I  am  so  contemptible  ! 

[Enter,  at  door  back,  GOODY  RICKEY  ;  her  blacksmith  garb 
is  hidden  under  a  dingy  black  mantle  with  peaked  hood.] 

DICKON 

Good  verse,  too,  for  a  parody ! 
[Ruminating,  raises  one  arm  rhetorically  above  Ravensbane.~\ 

"  Farewell,  happy  fields 

Where  joy  forever  dwells!     Hail,  horrors;  hail, 
Infernal  world !  and  thou,  profoundest  Hell, 
Receive  thy  new  possessor." 

GOODY   RICKEY 

[Seizing  his  arm] 
Dickon ! 

DICKON 

Hullo  !     You,  Bess  ! 

GOODY  RICKEY 

There's  not  a  minute  to  lose.  Justice  Merton  and 
the  neighbours  have  ended  their  conference  at  Min 
ister  Dodge's,  and  are  returning  here. 


THE  SCARECROW 

DICKON 

What !  coming  back  in  the  dark  ?     They  ran  away 
in  the  daylight  as  if  the  ghosts  were  after  'em. 

GOODY  RICKEY 
\At  the  window^ 
I  see  their  lanterns  down  the  road. 

DICKON 
Well,  let  'em  come.     We're  ready. 

GOODY  RICKBY 
But  thou  toldst  me  they  had  discovered  — 

DICKON 

A  scarecrow  in  a  mirror.     Well?     The  glass  is 
bewitched ;  that's  all. 

GOODY  RICKBY 

All?     Witchcraft  is  hanging  — that's  all!     Come, 
how  shall  the  mirror  help  us  ? 

DICKON 

Tis  very  simple.    The  glass  is  bewitched.    Mistress 
Rachel  -  mind  you  -  shall  admit  it.     She  bought  it 

°f  y°U*  GOODY   RICKBY 

Yea,  of  me ;  'twill  be  me  they'll  hang. 

DICKON 

Good!    then  the  glass  is   bewitched.     The   glass 
bewitches  the  room ;  for  witchcraft  is  catching  and 


THE  SCARECROW  163 

spreads  like  the  small-pox.  Ergo,  the  distorted  image 
of  Lord  Ravensbane;  ergo,  the  magical  accompani 
ments  of  the  ballad ;  ergo,  the  excited  fancies  of  all 
the  persons  in  the  room.  Ergo,  the  glass  must  needs 
be  destroyed,  and  the  room  thoroughly  disinfected  by 
the  Holy  Scriptures.  Ergo,  Master  Dickonson  him 
self  reads  the  Bible  aloud,  the  guests  apologize  and 
go  home,  the  Justice  squirms  again  in  his  merry  dead 
past,  and  his  fair  niece  is  wed  to  the  pumpkin. 

RAVENSBANE 
Hideous !     Hideous ! 

GOODY  RICKEY 

Your  grateful  servant,  Devil !  But  the  mirror  was 
bought  of  me  —  of  me,  the  witch.  Wilt  thou  be  my 
hangman,  Dickon  ? 

DICKON 

Wilt  thou  give  me  a  kiss,  Goody  ?  When  did  ever 
thy  Dickon  desert  thee  ? 

GOODY  RICKEY 
But  how,  boy,  wilt  thou  — 

DICKON 

Trust  me,  and  thy  son.  When  the  Justice's  niece 
is  thy  daughter-in-law,  all  will  be  safe.  For  the  Jus 
tice  will  cherish  his  niece's  family. 

GOODY   RICKEY 

But  when  he  knows  — 


!64  THE   SCARECROW 

DICKON 

But  he  shall  not  know.  How  can  he  ?  When  the 
glass  is  denounced  as  fraudulent,  how  will  he,  or  any 
person,  ever  know  that  we  made  this  fellow  out  of 
rubbish  ?  Who,  forsooth,  but  a  poet  — or  a  devil  — 
would  believe  it  ?  You  mustn't  credit  men  with  our 
imaginations,  my  dear. 

RAVENSBANE 

Mockery  !     Always  mockery  ! 

GOODY  RICKBY 
Then  thou  wilt  pull  me  through  this  safe  ? 

DICKON 

As  I  adore  thee  —  and  my  own  reputation. 

GOODY   RICKEY 
\Hurrying  away.] 
Till  we  meet,  then,  boy. 

DICKON 

Stay,  marchioness  —  his  lordship  ! 

GOODY   RICKBY 

[Turning^ 

His  lordship's  pardon !     How  fares  "  the  bottom  of 
thy  heart,"  my  son  ? 

DICKON 
My  lord  —  your  lady  mother. 


THE   SCARECROW  165 

I 
RAVENSBANE 

Begone,  woman. 

GOODY  RICKEY 
[  Courtesying,  laughs  shrilly.] 
Your  servant  —  my  son  ! 

[About  to  depart] 

RAVENSBANE 

Ye  lie!     Both  of  you!     Ye  lie  — I  was  born   of 
Rachel. 

DICKON 

Tut,  tut,  Jacky ;  you  mustn't  mix  up  mothers  and 
prospective  wives  at  your  age.     It's  fatal. 

GOODY  RICKEY 

[Excitedly] 
They're  coming ! 

[Exit] 

DICKON 

[  Calling  after  her] 

Fear  not;  if  thou  shouldst  be  followed,  I  will  over 
take  thee. 

RAVENSBANE 

She  is  coming ;  Rachel  is  coming,  and  I  may  not 
look  upon  her ! 

DICKON 

Eh  ?     Why  not  ? ' 

RAVENSBANE 
I  am  a  monster. 


1 66  THE  SCARECROW 

DICKON 

\ 

And  born  of  her  —    Fie !  fie ! 

RAVENSBANE 

O  God !  I  know  not ;  I  mock  myself ;  I  know 
not  what  to  think.  But  this  I  know,  I  love  Rachel. 
I  love  her,  I  love  her. 

DICKON 
And  shalt  have  her. 

RAVENSBANE 

Have  her,  Dickon  ? 

DICKON 
For  lover  and  wife. 

RAVENSBANE 

For  wife  ? 

DICKON 

For  wife  and  all.     Thou  hast  but  to  obey. 

RAVENSBANE 

Ah  !  who  will  do  this  for  me  ? 

DICKON 

I! 

RAVENSBANE 

Dickon  !  Wilt  make  me  a  man  —  a  man  and 
worthy  of  her? 

DICKON 

Fiddlededee !  I  make  over  no  masterpieces.  Thy 
mistress  shall  be  Cinderella,  and  drive  to  her  palace 
with  her  gilded  pumpkin. 


THE  SCARECROW 
RAVENSBANE 

It  is  the  end. 

DICKON 

What!     You'll  not? 

RAVENSBANE 

Never. 

DICKON 
Harkee,  manikin.     Hast  thou  learned  to  suffer  ? 

RAVENSBANE 

\Wringing  his  hands] 
O  God! 

DICKON 

/  taught  thee.     Shall  I  teach  thee  further  ? 

RAVENSBANE 

Thou  canst  not. 

DICKON 

Cannot  —  ha!     What  if   I    should   teach   Rachel 
too? 

RAVENSBANE 

Rachel !  —  Ah  !  now  I  know  thee. 

DICKON 

[Bowing.] 
Flattered. 

RAVENSBANE 

Devil !     Thou  wouldst  not  torment  Rachel  ? 

DICKON 
Not  if  my  lord  — 


1 68  THE   SCARECROW 

RAVENSBANE 

Speak !     What  must  I  do  ? 

DICKON 

Not  speak.     Be  silent,  my  lord,  and  acquiesce  to 
all  I  say. 

RAVENSBANE 

I  will  be  silent. 

DICKON 
And  acquiesce  ? 

RAVENSBANE 

I  will  be  silent. 

[Enter  MINISTER  DODGE,  accompanied  by  SIR  CHARLES  RED- 
DINGTON,  CAPTAIN  BUGBY,  the  REV.  MASTERS  RAND  and 
TODD,  and  followed  by  JUSTICE  MERTON,  RICHARD,  MIS 
TRESS  MERTON,  and  RACHEL.  Richard  and  Rachel  stand 
somewhat  apart,  Rachel  drawing  close  to  Richard  and 
hiding  her  face.  All  wear  their  outer  wraps,  and  two 
or  three  hold  lanterns,  which,  save  the  moon,  throw  the 
only  light  upon  the  scene.  All  enter  solemn  and  silent.~\ 

MINISTER  DODGE 
Lord,  be  Thou  present  with  us,  in  this  unholy  spot. 

SEVERAL   MEN'S  VOICES 

Amen. 

DICKON 

Friends!     Have   you   seized   her?     Is   she   made 
prisoner  ? 

MINISTER  DODGE 
Stand  from  us. 


THE   SCARECROW  l6g 

DICKON 

Sir,  the  witch  !     Surely  you  did  not  let  her  escape  ? 

ALL 

The  witch ! 

DICKON 

A  dame  in  a  peaked  hood.  She  has  but  now  fled 
the  house.  She  called  herself  —  Goody  Rickby. 

ALL 

Goody  Rickby ! 

MISTRESS  MERTON 
She  here ! 

DICKON 

Yea,  mistress,  and  hath  confessed  all  the  damnable 
art,  by  which  all  of  us  have  lately  been  so  terrorized, 
and  his  lordship,  my  poor  master,  so  maligned  and 
victimized. 

RICHARD 

Victimized ! 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

What  confessed  she  ? 

MINISTER  DODGE 

What  said  she  ? 

DICKON 

This :  It  appeareth  that,  for  some  time  past,  she 
hath  cherished  revengeful  thoughts  against  our  hon 
oured  host,  Justice  Merton. 


I/O  THE  SCARECROW 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

Sir !     What  cause  —  what  cause  — 

DICKON 

Inasmuch  as  your  worship  hath  ever  so  right 
eously  condemned  her  damnable  faults,  and  threat 
ened  them  punishment. 

MINISTER  DODGE 
Yea  — well? 

DICKON 

Thus,  in  revenge,  she  bewitched  yonder  mirror, 
and  this  very  morning  unlawfully  inveigled  this  sweet 
young  lady  into  purchasing  it. 

SIR   CHARLES 

Mistress  Rachel ! 

MINISTER  DODGE 

[To  Rachel'} 
Didst  thou  purchase  that  glass  ? 

RACHEL 

[In  a  low  voice. ~\ 
Yes. 

MINISTER  DODGE 

From  Goody  Rickby  ? 

RACHEL 

Yes. 

RICHARD 
Sir  —  the  blame  was  mine. 


THE  SCARECROW  I? I 

RACHEL 

[  dinging  to  him.'] 
O  Richard ! 

DICKON 

Pardon,  my  friends.  The  fault  rests  upon  no  one 
here.  The  witch  alone  is  to  blame.  Her  black  art 
inveigled  this  innocent  maid  into  purchasing  the 
glass ;  her  black  art  bewitched  this  room  and  all  that 
it  contained  —  even  to  these  innocent  virginals,  on 
which  I  played. 

MINISTER  DODGE 

Verily,  this  would  seem  to  account  —  but  the  image ; 
the  damnable  image  in  the  glass  ? 

DICKON 

A  familiar  devil  of  hers  —  a  sly  imp,  it  seems,  who 
wears  to  mortal  eyes  the  shape  of  a  scarecrow. 
'Twas  he,  by  means  of  whom  she  bedevilled  this 
glass,  by  making  it  his  habitat.  When,  therefore, 
she  learned  that  honour  and  happiness  were  yours, 
Justice  Merton,  in  the  prospect  of  Lord  Ravensbane 
as  your  nephew-in-law,  she  commanded  this  devil  to 
reveal  himself  in  the  glass  as  my  lord's  own  image, 
that  thus  she  might  wreck  your  family  felicity. 

MINISTER  DODGE 

Infamous! 

DICKON 

Indeed,  sir,  it  was  this  very  devil  whom  but  now 
she  stole  here  to  consult  withal,  when  she  encoun- 


I/2  THE  SCARECROW 

tered  me,  attendant  here  upon  my  poor  prostrate 
lord,  and  —  held  by  the  wrath  in  my  eye  —  con 
fessed  it  all. 

SIR   CHARLES 

Thunder  and  brimstone !     Where  is  this  accursed 
hag? 

DICKON 
Alas — gone,  gone  !     If  you  had  but  stopped  her. 

MINISTER  DODGE 

I  know  her  den  —  the  blacksmith  shop. 

SIR  CHARLES 

[Starting.] 

Which  way  ? 

MINISTER  DODGE 

To  the  left. 

SIR  CHARLES 

Go  on,  there. 

MINISTER  DODGE 

My  honoured  friend,  we  shall  return  and  officially 
destroy  this  fatal  glass.  But  first,  we  must  secure 
the  witch.  Heaven  shield,  with  her  guilt,  the  inno 
cent! 

THE   MEN 

[As  they  hurry  out] 
Amen. 


Go  on ! 


SIR   CHARLES 
[  Outside] 


[Exeunt  all  but  Richard,  Rachel,  Justice  Merton,  Mistress 
Merton,  Dickon,  and  Ravensbane] 


THE  SCARECROW  1/3 

DICKON 

\_To  Justice  Merton,  who  has  importuned  him,  aside.~] 
And  reveal  thy  youthful  escapades  to  Rachel  ? 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

God  help  me !  no. 

DICKON 

So  then,  dear  friends,  this  strange  incident  is 
happily  elucidated.  The  pain  and  contumely  have 
fallen  most  heavily  upon  my  dear  lord  and  master, 
but  you  are  witnesses,  even  now,  of  his  silent  and 
Christian  forgiveness  of  your  suspicions.  Bygones, 
therefore,  be  bygones.  The  future  brightens  —  with 
orange-blossoms  !  Hymen  and  Felicity  stand  with 
us  here  ready  to  unite  two  amorous  and  bashful 
lovers.  His  lordship  is  reticent;  yet  to  you  alone, 
of  all  beautiful  ladies,  Mistress  Rachel  — 

RAVENSBANE 

\_In  a  mighty  voiceJ] 
Silence ! 

DICKON 

My  lord  would  — 

RAVENSBANE 

Silence  !     Dare  not  to  speak  to  her  ! 

DICKON 
\_Biting  his  lip.'] 
My  babe  is  weaned. 


1/4  THE  SCARECROW 

RACHEL 

[Still  at  Richard's  side.'} 
Oh,  my  lord,  if  I  have  made  you  suffer  — 

RICHARD 

[  Appealingly.~\ 
Rachel ! 

RAVENSBANE 
\_Approaching  her,  raises  one  arm  to  screen  his  face.~\ 

Gracious  lady !  let  fall  your  eyes ;  look  not  upon 
me.  If  I  have  dared  remain  in  your  presence,  if  I 
dare  now  speak  once  more  to  you,  'tis  because  I 
would  have  you  know  —  O  forgive  me !  —  that  I  love 
you. 

RICHARD 

Sir !  This  lady  has  renewed  her  promise  to  be  my 
wife. 

RAVENSBANE 

Your  wife,  or  not,  I  love  her. 

RICHARD 

Zounds ! 

RAVENSBANE 

.  Forbear,  and  hear  me  !  For  one  wonderful  day  I 
have  gazed  upon  this,  your  world.  The  sun  has 
kindled  me  and  the  moon  has  blessed  me.  A  million 
forms  —  of  trees,  of  stones,  of  stars,  of  men,  of  com 
mon  things  —  have  swum  like  motes  before  my  eyes ; 
but  one  alone  was  wholly  beautiful.  That  form  was 
Rachel:  to  her  alone  I  was  not  ludicrous;  to  her  I 


THE  SCARECROW  1/5 

also  was  beautiful.  Therefore,  I  love  her.  You  talk 
to  me  of  mothers,  mistresses,  lovers,  and  wives  and 
sisters,  and  you  say  men  love  these.  What  is  love  ? 
The  sun's  enkindling  and  the  moon's  quiescence  ; 
the  night  and  day  of  the  world  —  the  all  of  life,  the 
all  which  must  include  both  you  and  me  and  God,  of 
whom  you  dream.  Well  then,  I  love  you,  Rachel. 
What  shall  prevent  me  ?  Mistress,  mother,  wife  — 
thou  art  all  to  me  ! 

RICHARD 

My  lord,  I  can  only  reply  for  Mistress  Rachel, 
that  you  speak  like  one  who  does  not  understand  this 
world. 

RAVENSBANE 

O  God!  Sir,  and  do  you?  If  so,  tell  me — tell 
me  before  it  be  too  late  —  why,  in  this  world,  such 
a  thing  as  /  can  love  and  talk  of  love.  Why,  in  this 
world,  a  true  man  and  woman,  like  you  and  your 
betrothed,  can  look  upon  this  counterfeit  and  be 
deceived. 

RACHEL  AND   RICHARD 

Counterfeit  ? 

RAVENSBANE 

Me  —  on  me  —  the  ignominy  of  the  earth,  the 
laughing-stock  of  the  angels  ! 

RACHEL 

Why,  my  lord.     Are  you  not  — 

RAVENSBANE 

No. 


1/6  THE   SCARECROW 

JUSTICE   MERTON 
\_To   RavensbaneJ] 
Forbear !     Not  to  her  — 

DICKON 
My  lord  forgets. 

RACHEL 

Are  you  not  Lord  Ravensbane  ? 

RAVENSBANE 

Marquis  of  Oxford,  Baron  of  Wittenberg,  Elector 
of  Worms,  and  Count  of  Cordova?  No,  I  am  not 
Lord  Ravensbane.  I  am  Lord  Scarecrow ! 

\He  bursts  into  laughter^ 

RACHEL 

\_Shrinking  back.~\ 
Ah  me! 

RAVENSBANE 

A  nobleman  of  husks,  bewitched  from  a  pumpkin. 

RACHEL 

The  image  in  the  glass  was  true  ? 

RAVENSBANE 

Yes,  true.  It  is  the  glass  of  truth — thank  God! 
Thank  God  for  you,  dear. 

JUSTICE   MERTON 

Richard !  Go  for  the  minister ;  this  proof  of 
witchcraft  needs  be  known. 

[Richard  does  not  movel\ 


THE  SCARECROW 

DICKON 
My  lord,  this  grotesque  absurdity  must  end. 

RAVENSBANE 

True,    Dickon !      This   grotesque   absurdity   must 
end.     Thejaugher  and  the  laughing-stock,  man  and 
the  worm,  possess  at  Tegst^orren:^^ 
both  musF  die. 

DICKON 
[Speaking  low.~\ 
Remember !  if  you  dare  —  Rachel  shall  suffer  for  it. 

RAVENSBANE 

You  lie.     She  is  above  your  power. 

DICKON 
Still,  thou  darest  not  — 

RAVENSBANE 

Fool,  I  dare. 

[Turning  to  Rachel."] 

Mistress,  this  pipe  is  I.  This  intermittent  smoke 
holds,  in  its  nebula,  Venus,  Mars,  the  world.  If  I 
should  break  it — Chaos  and  the  dark  !  And  this  of 
me  that  now  stands  up  will  sink  jumbled  upon  the 
floor  —  a  scarecrow.  See  !  I  break  it. 

[ffe  breaks  the  pipe  in  his  hands,  and  flings  the  pieces 
at  Dickon's  feet  in  defiance ;  then  turns,  agonized,  to 
Rachel.] 

Oh,  Rachel,  could  I  have  been  a  man  — ! 

N 


178  THE  SCARECROW 

DICKON 
\JPicking  up  the  pieces  of  pipe,  turns  to  RachelJ] 

Mademoiselle,  I  felicitate  you ;  you  have  outwitted 
the  devil. 

{Kissing  his  fingers  to  her,  he  disappears^ 

MISTRESS   MERTON 

{Seizing  the  Justice V  arm  infrightJ] 
Satan ! 

JUSTICE  MERTON 

[  Whispers.'] 
Gone! 

RACHEL 

Richard !  Richard  !  support  him. 

RICHARD 

{Sustaining  Ravensbane,  who  sways."] 
He  is  fainting.     A  chair  I, 

RACHEL 

[Placing  a   chair,   helps   Richard  to   support  Ravensbane 
toward  it.~] 

How  pale ;  but  yet  no  change. 

RICHARD 

His  heart,  perhaps. 

RACHEL 

Oh,  Dick,  if  it  should  be  some  strange  mistake! 
Look!  he  is  noble  still.  My  lord!  my  lord!  the 
glass ; — 


THE  SCARECROW 

[She  draws  the  curtain  of  the  mirror,  just  opposite  which 
Ravensbane  has  sunk  into  the  chair.  At  her  cry,  he 
starts  up  faintly  and  gazes  at  his  reflection,  which  is 
seen  to  be  a  normal  image  of  himself. ~\ 

RAVENSBANE 

Who  is  it  ? 

RACHEL 

Yourself,  my  lord  —  'tis  the  glass  of  truth. 

RAVENSBANE 

\_His  face  lighting  with  an  exalted  joy,  starts  to  his  feet,  erect, 

before  the  glass. ~\ 
A  man ! 

\_He  falls  back  into  the  arms  of  the  two  lovers.~\ 

Rachel ! 

\He  dies.'] 

RACHEL 

Richard,   I  am   afraid.     Was   it  a  chimera,  or  a 
hero  ? 


FINIS 


f?  or  Th? 

\     UNIVERSITY 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  lb  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

LOAN  DIPT. 

AN       This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

WILL  on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 

I"/s  l         Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recalL 

WILL  i _ 


DAY 


BEC'D 


MAH    i — ft 

NlftR  1 1  t9»l 


JA 


JUN  i 


t* 


0 


NOV  26  1 


-sroft^e? 


3  1  72  -S  PM 


nrn    9 1977    J 


^?*- 


MKf  22  1987- 


MAY211S 


LD  21A-50m-4,'60 
(A9562slO)476B 


General  Library 

University  of  California 

Berkeley 


I960 


YB  31875 


u 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


